Scripture:
Genesis 11:1-4
Now the
whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As
people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled
there.
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make
bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of
stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they
said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the
heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will
be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
In Genesis 11, the people living on the plain
of Shinar built their city as a way to defend themselves against being
scattered by future enemies. But what if instead of defending against possible
enemies, they had built their city to welcome potential enemies?
What if they had invited everyone in instead of
trying to keep people out? What if instead of wanting to be known for their
tower, they had set their sights on being known as a safe haven and a welcoming
home to anyone who needed it?
What if instead of building a tower that reached to
the heavens, they focused on being a community that pointed to
Heaven?
What if we tried to be more welcoming in our own
lives? What if we let down our emotional defenses, stopped showing off with
false pride and bravado, and just let people in? What if we focused on having
real relationships with co-workers, strangers, and even our enemies? What if we
opened ourselves, completely, to anyone?
Like the people of Shinar, we might be attacked,
we might be hurt, and we might be taken advantage of if we let ourselves be
that vulnerable.
But we also might gather people to ourselves in
genuine comradery like never before. That degree of vulnerability is what Jesus
used to gather His community. He opened Himself - was hurt - and was
triumphant. From the start, Jesus knew that any pain He suffered, including
emotional pain, was worth it for the sake of inviting others to Himself.
Will you invite others to yourself? Will you let
them see the open, defenseless you so that perhaps they can be open and
defenseless with you? Will you be a tower of emotional vulnerability pointing
to Heaven?
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