Who remembers the first big decision we all had to make in Kingdom Hearts… making the choice between taking the sword, the shield, or the staff?  At such an early stage of the game, I didn’t feel prepared to make a decision that could have long-lasting ramifications on how I played the game. But that wasn’t the last choice I had to make… along the way, I made decisions about how to level up my party, which items to equip, and the order I took on challenges. Some were the right call for me and my style of play, and others were choices I’d later regret. Either way, the game would reveal if these were wise or foolish choices… and I was the one who’d have to deal with the fallout. All of us play the same game, but how we get to our ending is a unique story… no two play-throughs are identical.

It’s easy to be critical of the way others play the game of life, and judging how our fellow servants follow Christ (even with the best of intentions) is far above our pay grade. How do we know what choices others felt forced to make before they fully understood that decision? And how do we know what they had to give up in exchange? We will all start in different places, serve the Lord in different ways, and follow different paths to His endgame, so let’s resist the urge to judge. That is the fatal first step into self-righteousness. 

There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? James 4:12

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. Romans 14:10-13

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The “Needler” in Halo may not pack the same punch as a shotgun or a rocket launcher, but its’ ordnance is capable of defeating even the most powerful Spartan because of one devastating detail… the needles track and attach themselves to their target and then explode, draining their protective energy shield and leaving the victim vulnerable for a follow-up attack. Getting stuck by one lone needle typically represents a short-term irritation that can be easily shaken off, but there is typically more where that came from… and as the Needler rains down a “death by a thousand cuts”, these small annoyances can quickly turn into a fatal disruption for any of us.

In my life, I’ve found that it isn’t necessarily the big problems that pull me away from the Lord… those tend to push me directly into His arms for His support. Instead, it’s the small, daily irritants of chronic pain, work stress, or household tasks that slowly weaken my connection with Christ and leave me feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable to the most basic of enemy attacks. These needles that serve as “thorns in the flesh” can be easy to underestimate and difficult to appreciate, but we shouldn’t ignore them or resent them. Instead, let’s recognize them as reminders of our need for the Lord’s grace throughout our day… and when a needle hits, let’s stop and recharge our shields.

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

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Pokemon Go’s not perfect, and there’s always something to complain about, but the winter Precious Paths season is certainly looking strong in some ways. Yes, there are some very wrong turns ahead, but there’s enough good to light a fire even in this player’s cold heart. Today’s Massively on the Go is here not just to warn […]