Gandalf

An angry, defensive, bitter Bilbo; "Why shouldn't I keep it? It's mine, my precious. What business is it of yours what I do with my own things? You want it for yourself!"

"Bilbo Baggins, do not take me as some conjurer of cheap tricks. I am not trying to rob you… I am trying to help you." Gandalf replies.

You can see the warmth and care in Gandalf’s eyes as he looks at a very beat down, guarded, defeated Bilbo. I watched a couple of weeks ago as some students responded to the truth in scripture the exact same way;

-It is just the way I am.
-Everyone is struggling.
-I am doing better than them.
-It is not that big of a deal.
-I am not perfect.
-Why did God make me this way?

With each truth from the Word of God, it seemed their walls went up higher and higher. Having our sin pointed out is never fun, but when we are completely blindsided by truth it can really throw us off.

My challenge is to remember the interaction between Gandalf and Bilbo. God is not trying to rob you of life, happiness, freedom or peace. He is trying to help you.

Simply put, sin=hurt for everyone. If we would just believe that God wants what is best for our lives it would allow us to walk away from some things that we think are “precious.”