From the Pulpit: Avoid falling into a life of BALT
By:
Pastor Kirk Strand, Brandon Valley Assembly of God
Christ was asked a very provocative question, “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” No matter what the response, they were wanting an argument. They had laid a trap, and were hoping Jesus would be caught.
Matt. 22:34-40 gives his response. “Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind … Love your neighbor as yourself.” He had wrapped up all the commands of scripture with two thoughts, Love God and Love People.
In this moment, he stopped an argument with a group of Pharisees and a so-called expert in the Law. And he also put forth a challenge for us that is still relevant 2,000 years later. We are called to Love our God, and Love his People.
In your personal life, have you ever noticed how difficult that second part can often be? Loving people at their best is easy. But loving them when they are at their worst, or if I am at my worst, can be so hard.
I discovered a word … BALT. This simply stands for Bored, Angry, Lonely and Tired. Look at yourself, watch how hard it is to love people when you are in a BALT frame of mind. When BALT happens, your family, even the world pays the price.
We are living in a confusing, complicated time. In many ways, the whole world has fallen into a BALT life. And I think this is a moment for God’s people to be difference makers. We are called to be people of peace, and people of love. And to model in these days how to Love our God, and Love his people.
This is still the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it.
