Annoyed

Who do you know that absolutely annoys the mess out of you?

People on the phone in the supermarket. Fanatics at the sports bar. People always trying to make an appearance. Texting and driving. People who go on social media rants. People who talk too much. Laugh too much. Cry too much. Skinny jeans. Yoga pants. Dads living their dreams through their sons. Moms dressing like their teenage daughters. Those flaunting their wealth of knowledge or cash. The know it all's and the have it all's.

They're just plain annoying.

But there's a good chance that on some occasions we can be the most annoying person in the room as well. Seriously. I make myself so mad. Sometimes I annoy myself. These little quirks that I have. I often think to myself, "Why did I do that? Why did I say that? Why did I think that? Why did I wear that? Why did I go there?"

Do you know what else annoys me? Statements in the Bible. Statements like:

Sin has consequences. Morality doesn't heal heart issues. Forgiveness is costly. Those who find life must lose it. Giving is better than receiving. Humility is preferred over pride. Generosity and greed can't cohabitate. Suffering is inevitable.

These truths are unsettling. They disrupt my lifestyle. It seems like God, the Bible, Jesus wants to interrupt my regularly scheduled program of doing things my own way. Christianity interferes with the god of 'me.' And to be honest, it's annoying.

I want to do things my way. Go where I want. Do what I want. When I want. With whom I want. Without anyone telling me what to do, how to think, or where to be.

But I can't.

Some time ago I read this verse in the Bible, [they were] greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming Jesus (Acts 4:2). For way too much of my life I have been annoyed just like those religious leaders. People carrying out the mission of God while I sat idly by being annoyed by their fanaticism. Watching their lives being poured out for the singular purpose of bringing glory and honor to God.

And through that verse there's been a conviction brought on my life that is driving me toward a greater faith and fearlessness to accomplish His purposes in me.

I, like Paul, have decided to make it my mission to live by this anthem, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now liv in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:20).

I suppose I will still be annoyed. Annoyed by my own tendencies to shrink back from doing what I know I ought. Giving in to those temptations that simply please myself and feed my flesh. Annoyed by my own sinful habits instead of the habits of others. But with every moment of annoyance I hope I'm brought back to this phrase, "[He] loved me and gave himself for me."