I love the response Jesus gives to Mary and Joseph after they found their Son at the temple.
Picture the scene:
Mary and Joseph realize that they were wrong in assuming Jesus was with others who had joined them. Frantically, they retrace their steps hoping to find their Son. After much anguish, they find Jesus in the temple they had left three days earlier. Jesus, with his heart in tune to the matter at hand, did not stop to think that he had worried Mary and Joseph. Fed by the adreneline of searching for her child, Mary asks why he has put them through such turmoil. Young Jesus is astonished at his mother's question. Shouldn't she know him better than this?
Jesus felt like Mary and Joseph should have know where he was and what he was doing...in His Father's house, about His Father's business.
Shouldn't the same be true of us? Shouldn't those who know us and even a strange we meet for five minutes know "what we are about?"
Jeff and I were talking last night and he said, "We should live our lives so that when we walk away from someone, they would consider coming to church with us if we asked."
All to often, we meet people (or know them for that matter) and find out they go to church or call themselves Christians. Our first thought about this is, "Are you kidding me?" They don't leave an impression on us that would make us want to sit with them on Sunday mornings.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not claiming to be perfect and good in all that I do. I have my fair share of faults and make plenty of mistakes, but ultimately, I'd like for people to know I am about Jesus. Don't you?
How do we do this? I don't have all the answers, but it starts by having a relationship with him. Yes, an honesty to goodness, life altering moment where you surrender your life to him. Then learn all you can about him through worship, prayer, bible study, and fellowship with other Christians. Most of all, LOVE LIKE JESUS. I have a Valentine's purse, yes a Valentine''s purse, that says, "Love Like Jesus." And we should, plain and simple. We don't have to be best friends with everyone, but we can show everyone love. Afterall, God commands it.
So, my prayer for all of us today, study group ladies and those just reading our posts and following along, my prayer is that those we know and meet for just a short time will know that we are about our Father's business, and that they would want to be about His business because of us.
I have a Psalm of the day quote on my blog. The other day, just when I needed it most, I saw it. It is Psalm 25:20-21 Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in You.
ReplyDeleteI wrote it down and took it to school with me today. I knew that these verses would remind me that I need to show others through my actions and words that I am a Christian. This verse reminds me what it is like to be about Christ, to let others see Him in me. I tried to remember these words today when I had a difficult challenge placed in front of me. I think that without this verse in the back of my mind, I would have lost my composure and started to cry. I used this to help keep me strong. I hope it will help someone else too.
My mother took my sister, brother, and me to church every time the doors were open. I'm trying to do the same with my children to show them how important God is to me. I can hear Clara now after Wednesday nights with Ms. June, "The bible is an important book read it everyday." Also in Sunday school the kids talking about Jesus and beginning to really understand who he is.
ReplyDeleteHilarie, That was a good verse. Thank you for sharing it!
ReplyDelete