I think I am going to start writing these "notes" or what have you, every Saturday night. Somewhat like a Blog I guess. but anyway:
I was told by someone I used to work with about a situation that he was in. He is a teacher and he has a student whom he truly cares about. This student is very rebellious! Let's say his name is Tommy. Tommy does everything in his power to do the exact opposite of everything that this teacher, whom we will call James, says ( so for you slow folk out there Tommy = Rebellious Student and James = Teacher) As I listened to James talk the other day about Tommy, he kept on getting more and more angry about this young guy. "Tommy just does not get it," he would say. "Everything I do Tommy has to do the opposite just to get under me," James would say. "Tommy says he understands me, and that he wants to be the best, but acts after the fact, like he does not care at all," James ended. I said,"James so what is going on with Tommy then?" He said,"I don't know I tell him and show him how to act, how to behave, and how to perform..I punish him..and he still does not act right, even though he knows that it is best for him."
So I said, "James what are you going to do?" James said, "I will change nothing!" I started to ponder, this guy is a moron! He is complaining about a student who obviously has a huge issue with listening and obeying authority and he is going to do nothing! What the heck! "What do you mean you are going to change nothing?!?! This kid is making your life AWEFUL!!! Why don't you just give up....find another teacher to deal with him. Then you can really focus on the students that care," I said to James.
Then it hit me in the forehead like a five pound metal skillet! (been there don't ask). The more I thought about the next thought, the more my head began to throb. I felt as if I were literally getting a headache on my forehead from thinking about it.
"Love." James said boldly. James proceeded to say, "What if that guy has no one in his life that says I care about you with there actions? What if I am the only person in that student's life that cares about him to keep structure in his life? Even though he may not act on it, does not mean that I don't have an obligation as a person to be that stability in his life." James said," I am talking about a type of love that says, 'no matter what; no matter what you do, I won't give up on you' ".
From this point Christ took over the conversation. James kept complaining about Tommy and I kind of ignored him because I was so enthrawled with the concept that had been thrown in my face!
I do so much in my life. But if there is one thing that I find each day, it is that I am becoming (in my spiritual life) just like Tommy. Christ says to me, " Josh, this is how you are to live!", I respond with a chuckle and, " Okay God, what ever you say" and I don't act on what he told me to act on. I don't want to say anything much about me from here on out because obviously, Christ wants me to live the way he wants me to live, because it is best for me.
What does this say about the love of Christ? A lot....Adam had a beautiful relationship with God. Adam walked with Him and loved him...Then the unthinkable happened...Adam and his wife disobeyed. From the second that Adam and Eve sinned for the first time, God said, " I will do whatever it takes, no matter what you do I will not give up on you." From that point He walked with humanity, hand in hand all the way to the death of His own Son. Even Christ when He was being beaten by a whip, he took each hit saying "I won't give up, I will do whatever it takes!" When Jesus was on the Cross and He felt as if His Father had turned away from Him, He still remembered his promise, "I won't give up, I will do whatever it takes." During his final breath on this earth, He completed what He said He would complete.
"I have completed it, I did not give up, I have not given up, and I will not give up on you, no matter what it takes." Christ set the standard for Love. When He saw something that was His, and saw that something might threaten it....He made the statement by His actions that nothing would stop Him. What threatened His creation, was not just some outside adversary. They threatened themselves. We threatened ourselves. When we mess ourselves up and disobey His directions, He does not give up on us. Every action that He has made to help us, cries out....I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON YOU, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO ME, I WILL GIVE YOU ALL I HAVE GOT!!!
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:6-8
What a standard.
How do you live up to that standard? Do you hold yourself to that standard, with the way that you care about others? I think it is very cliche, but does Christian not mean "little Christ"? Should we not reinact His love in our life everyday?
Are you willingly telling your family that you love them in this way?
Are you reaching out to someone around you that may not have this kind of love, and telling them by your actions, that you will do whatever it takes to show them you care?
In retrospect to the question above, if you are in a relationship are you being careful how you say the three word phrase, " I love you"? Because that statement is packed with a lot of thought when you compare it to the standard that Christ sets for what love is truly.
To some of my engaged friends....and married friends......Are you willing to say to Your future wife or husband (or your wife or husband) that no matter what, you will stick it out with them. Whether God brings storms or sunshine, Whatever it takes, I will not give up on you. That is the example of love He has set for you.
If you are a Christian, are your actions saying to the lost world, "My Jesus did not give up on you, I will not give up on you. Because he loved you, I also will love you."
I know a long note..........but you will live. Hopefully I was able to get that brain ticking. Leave your thoughts if you would like.
I was told by someone I used to work with about a situation that he was in. He is a teacher and he has a student whom he truly cares about. This student is very rebellious! Let's say his name is Tommy. Tommy does everything in his power to do the exact opposite of everything that this teacher, whom we will call James, says ( so for you slow folk out there Tommy = Rebellious Student and James = Teacher) As I listened to James talk the other day about Tommy, he kept on getting more and more angry about this young guy. "Tommy just does not get it," he would say. "Everything I do Tommy has to do the opposite just to get under me," James would say. "Tommy says he understands me, and that he wants to be the best, but acts after the fact, like he does not care at all," James ended. I said,"James so what is going on with Tommy then?" He said,"I don't know I tell him and show him how to act, how to behave, and how to perform..I punish him..and he still does not act right, even though he knows that it is best for him."
So I said, "James what are you going to do?" James said, "I will change nothing!" I started to ponder, this guy is a moron! He is complaining about a student who obviously has a huge issue with listening and obeying authority and he is going to do nothing! What the heck! "What do you mean you are going to change nothing?!?! This kid is making your life AWEFUL!!! Why don't you just give up....find another teacher to deal with him. Then you can really focus on the students that care," I said to James.
Then it hit me in the forehead like a five pound metal skillet! (been there don't ask). The more I thought about the next thought, the more my head began to throb. I felt as if I were literally getting a headache on my forehead from thinking about it.
"Love." James said boldly. James proceeded to say, "What if that guy has no one in his life that says I care about you with there actions? What if I am the only person in that student's life that cares about him to keep structure in his life? Even though he may not act on it, does not mean that I don't have an obligation as a person to be that stability in his life." James said," I am talking about a type of love that says, 'no matter what; no matter what you do, I won't give up on you' ".
From this point Christ took over the conversation. James kept complaining about Tommy and I kind of ignored him because I was so enthrawled with the concept that had been thrown in my face!
I do so much in my life. But if there is one thing that I find each day, it is that I am becoming (in my spiritual life) just like Tommy. Christ says to me, " Josh, this is how you are to live!", I respond with a chuckle and, " Okay God, what ever you say" and I don't act on what he told me to act on. I don't want to say anything much about me from here on out because obviously, Christ wants me to live the way he wants me to live, because it is best for me.
What does this say about the love of Christ? A lot....Adam had a beautiful relationship with God. Adam walked with Him and loved him...Then the unthinkable happened...Adam and his wife disobeyed. From the second that Adam and Eve sinned for the first time, God said, " I will do whatever it takes, no matter what you do I will not give up on you." From that point He walked with humanity, hand in hand all the way to the death of His own Son. Even Christ when He was being beaten by a whip, he took each hit saying "I won't give up, I will do whatever it takes!" When Jesus was on the Cross and He felt as if His Father had turned away from Him, He still remembered his promise, "I won't give up, I will do whatever it takes." During his final breath on this earth, He completed what He said He would complete.
"I have completed it, I did not give up, I have not given up, and I will not give up on you, no matter what it takes." Christ set the standard for Love. When He saw something that was His, and saw that something might threaten it....He made the statement by His actions that nothing would stop Him. What threatened His creation, was not just some outside adversary. They threatened themselves. We threatened ourselves. When we mess ourselves up and disobey His directions, He does not give up on us. Every action that He has made to help us, cries out....I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON YOU, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO ME, I WILL GIVE YOU ALL I HAVE GOT!!!
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:6-8
What a standard.
How do you live up to that standard? Do you hold yourself to that standard, with the way that you care about others? I think it is very cliche, but does Christian not mean "little Christ"? Should we not reinact His love in our life everyday?
Are you willingly telling your family that you love them in this way?
Are you reaching out to someone around you that may not have this kind of love, and telling them by your actions, that you will do whatever it takes to show them you care?
In retrospect to the question above, if you are in a relationship are you being careful how you say the three word phrase, " I love you"? Because that statement is packed with a lot of thought when you compare it to the standard that Christ sets for what love is truly.
To some of my engaged friends....and married friends......Are you willing to say to Your future wife or husband (or your wife or husband) that no matter what, you will stick it out with them. Whether God brings storms or sunshine, Whatever it takes, I will not give up on you. That is the example of love He has set for you.
If you are a Christian, are your actions saying to the lost world, "My Jesus did not give up on you, I will not give up on you. Because he loved you, I also will love you."
I know a long note..........but you will live. Hopefully I was able to get that brain ticking. Leave your thoughts if you would like.
2 comments:
oh, it's so true! that's what we should be striving for, living a life of love, always shining His light!
thank you for sharing.
take care,
tori b.
I think the picture of the frying pan really drove the point home. ;)
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