I've been throwing this question around in my head...
Am I truly taking seriously the teachings of Jesus?
I'm not sure I want to know the answer.
But then again, once I ask a question it urks me when I don't know the answer, and on my journey of finding the answer, I knew it would be hard, yet, it would be worth it and life changing.With human hesitation I stepped out on this path, and of course there was a comfort and an excitement stirring inside. I love it when God continues to circumcise my heart and take me on these blind drives. He has the wheel, all I can do is follow and know he is faithful. He makes all things work together for my good, he is sovereign.
At first, I tried ignoring the answer. BAH! It was always in my mind. Following me like a dog on a leash.
Then I tried only to skim the surface and find a shallow answer. HA! no. Not possible. The truth is, when God is holding out his hand saying "Walk with me, I want to show you something" Deep down, though my fears push the thought away at first, I am so drawn to Him that I can't help but follow, and I know that eventually I'm going to walk with him, and Its going to be wonderful, whether easy or hard.
The question was still there: Am I taking Jesus' teachings seriously? Am I, as a follower of Christ, following his example and what he taught?
I would say at first glance, yes. And in some things, yes. However, I feel as though "Christianity" in the U.S. is a pick and choose life. You pick what you want to follow, you do what is easy for you; in other areas of life, you take control and decide to ignore what Jesus is saying about other things in your life.
I find that the things I turn a deaf ear to, are the things that have a stronghold in my life much of the time.
I find that the things that are hardest for me to do, are usually what I should do.
Turns out they're usually the most beneficial and beautiful journeys.
So I opened up to the Gospels.
And Prayed. Silenced my mind and opened my heart to begin to hear what the Father had to say.
*Cringe* Conviction.
True, we have to take things into context of what the Original Reader was thinking, what their mindset was, what their culture was like... but the Bible is full of timeless truths, and is still applicable to today. It's God's SPOKEN word, and he never changes. He isn't like us. He is steadfast, and knows all things before, during and after.
I suddenly got so MAD! ANGRY!
Angry with myself, angry with others, angry at this culture.
This was the scenario that popped into my head when I was reading.
Scene: Homeless Man on the street asking for money for food. Person in car looking at him.
The question passes through her head: Do I give him money?
Possible Options
a. No, he's probably a drug addict or alcoholic and will just use it for his addictions. I won't enable him
b. I have no cash. Sweet, no guilt.
c. I will give him a few dollars, enough for a McDonalds burger on the dollar menu, but not enough for substances, maybe throw in a "Jesus loves you" line. Hope for instant conviction
d. I'm going to buy him lunch and try to convert him.
e. Don't look at him, stick a few bucks out the window... now I can go home and sleep at night.
WHAT?! Is this really the best you can do?!
All of these answers are self centered, and controlling. Why do we think we have to control others lives? Yeah he has his junk... but so do we. We serve a God who looks at his children with the same love, and his heart breaks for us, and rejoices for us. He pursues no matter what. He has our best interest in mind, but he doesn't force us. He doesn't hold us in chains, he breaks our chains.
But this is what we think. It's sick. Why do we assume we are better off? We go through life devaluing people, and placing value on them. We add points to their value if they look good alongside us, if they are something we want to achieve likeness with...etc. We take away value if they don't "go" with our image, they aren't as intellectual, etc.
What ever happened to allowing God to transform all of us, and continuing to? Continuing to die to self? Being counter cultural? Why settle, when he promises so much more and wants so much more of us, but we allow our fears, insecurites and lack of being in control get in the way. It's not like he promises a boring, unfullfilling life. It's the unknown, yet knowing it is BIG! And WONDERFUL!
I think if Jesus was walking past that homeless man, he would love him. Whatever it looks like. Not put expectations on him, but just restore value, humanize him again. Maybe what that man needed most was to be reminded that he too is beloved and valuable. We have to let go and let God move us beautifully to His music. The result is a masterpiece of your life.
Matthew 6.24- "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. YOu cannot serve God and wealth"
.6.25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
So a challenge: Try it. Try really living according to God's heart, his eyes, his mind... try living like Jesus. What do you think it really means to live like Jesus? Be careful, it goes against most of what this world says, it goes against our very nature, and the result is transforming.
I challenge you to try it.
Allow Him to be your movement, your life, your heart.
Let go and be free.
Let go and experience Freedom!
Truth!
Love!
Transformation!
Allow yourself to know him even more... even deeper.
Hebrews 6.
End
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