Love.
I seem to be struggling with that in my profession these days.
I know that when these kids deserve it least is when they need it most but it is HARD.
The same complaints keep cycling through my head: "they don't listen," "they don't seem to care," "they aren't learning anything," "what's a person gotta do to get some respect," "Is it EVEN worth it?"
And then I think...
Couldn't God say the same about us?
He could. He could just decide He's had enough and smite us all. But instead, He loves us. Right. Where. We. Are. At.
That's humbling.
I've been doing some soul searching lately...or maybe the better term is "soul scrutinizing." I just finished reading "Crazy Love," a book by Francis Chan and it has completely shifted my thoughts and views on being a follow of Christ. Sad that a book other than the Bible was the culprit here, but it's true. He didn't write anything in his book that is not backed up by Biblical truth...and yet, we still miss it.
I am first in line to tell you that I am not perfect. But if I were, then I wouldn't need Jesus, and this whole post would be pointless now wouldn't it? But I'm not perfect and I do need Jesus....like I need air to breathe. Do I believe that? Yes, I really do.
I've always viewed my walk with Christ as a comparison to others. "Compared to others" I am doing pretty well. I try not to cuss, I don't drink or smoke, I try to be kind to others, I try to give when I can, and I try to fit in some bible reading here and there when I get the time.
But THAT, my friends, is why Christians are the main reason so many people don't want anything to do with what we have to offer. We compare ourselves to the rest of the world and think, "Oh, look at me. I'm doing way better than that guy over there." In reality, we should be viewing our life under the magnifying glass of the Holy Word of God. We (me being at the top of the list here) need to stop comparing ourselves to the rest of the population and compare ourselves to the profile of a Follower of Christ that Jesus outlines for us in His teaching.
What does that follower look like? A bit like this:
-Loves his enemies & does good to those that hate him (Matt 5:44)
-Does not boast about his charitable deeds (Matt 6:3-4)
-Lays up treasures in Heaven & not on earth (Matt 6:20)
-Seeks FIRST (before anything else) the kingdom of God (Matt 6:33)
-Does not judge others (Matt 7:1)
-Hated by others for His sake (Matt 10:22)
-Loves Christ MORE than his father, mother, or children....MORE than anyone/anything (Matt 10:37)
The follower denies himself daily, takes up his own cross, and follows after Christ with reckless abandon and childlike faith.
When I stop comparing myself to others in the world, and compare myself to the follower Christ describes, I'm not doing so hot. Matter of fact, I'm a miserable failure. But then again, that's what grace and forgiveness are for.
I want to be the follower that Jesus describes. I want to get to the point where I am daily offending people with the Gospel because we carry an offensive message. It is not easy. Every single day I must decrease and Christ must increase so that eventually, the outside world will no longer see me but they will see Christ that lives in me.
I changed my blog title. While I will still post the joys and challenges of raising an active and precious little boy, my life needs to be more about Christ than anything or anyone else. That's a tough pill to swallow for a mother. Mothers instinctively put their children first. It's our natural tendency but Christ clearly states that there is to be no one before Him. With that said, the title is now "Confessions of Someone Just Trying to Get it Right." This is my new journey of letting go and letting God.
Starting tonight, my husband and I are going on a media fast. For 10 days (or maybe longer depending on what happens), we are going to fast from media distractions: me from facebook and pinterest, he from video games, and we from netflix. We don't have cable so no worries there. We are going to unplug from the media world and plug into the God world. In our spare time that we would normally waste browsing, watching, listening, etc., we are going to dig deeper into God's word together and really focus on growing our relationship in Christ both individually and as a couple. I will still allow myself to blog if I have something I need to say that I don't want to forget: perhaps snippets of what we are learning. But, for the most part, I will be unplugged from the World Wide Web.
Perhaps there are areas of your life that you are distracted in as well. I challenge you too...go on a distraction fast. Fast from those little distractor demons in your lives and dive into what God has for you. I'm excited about the next 10 days and what God is going to reveal.
If you do decide to take on the 10 day distraction fast, leave me a comment and tell me what you are fasting from...I will be glad to pray for you.
Love in Christ!
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