Some quotes just stick with you... like this one that I heard a couple of years ago..."The only difference between your life today, and your life five years from now... will be the people you spend time with and the books that you read."
I think that's generally true. You gradually become like the people around you, or at least influenced by them. You learn gradually when you read - whether as a student or as just a leisurely reader. Both people and words influence the way you view life and practice life...
What would my life look like if I spent more time with God? How would my life be different in five years if I read His book?
Chew on those ideas... that you can change your future.. or "engineer," "design" your future life by choosing books, people, and "input" that will help you become the person you know you could be...
Some people got to spend a few years being up close and personal with Jesus as He walked the earth. We call them "disciples." "Disciple" means "learner, student, or apprentice." Someone who is "in training, following a leader."
In today's reading (John 13:31-38), Jesus is spending time with his disciples, passing on the MOST IMPORTANT truth about their future lives... He is about to leave them, and he's in the midst of breaking that bad news to them... "where I am going, you cannot come..."
But He gives them these remarkable words... easy to remember, sometimes impossible to do... "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (13:34).
Love one another.
I wish I could be better than that.
And yet, if I've spent time with Jesus, and I've read His book... I will gradually get better at loving people.
On the other side of the coin... I think that a lot of people see so-called "Christians" who do not show love, and think, "Why in the world would I want to be like those people?"
So true, and I don't blame them. We Christians have an image problem, and we have to love our way out of it, just like the disciples did. If you'd like to see one way they did it, check out Acts 2:42-47 - very impressive!
-----------------
Dear God...
- First of all, thank you for allowing me to know your love and experience your love. I want even more of that as I spend time with you in these "Dear God" times... Help me learn about and think about your love.
- Second, help me love others more than I love myself. Even today, I confess that I've been a pretty selfish Gary. Please forgive me and help me focus some energy and care toward others. Jesus did that so well, and calls me to join Him.
- God, I want people to see YOU in my life and in my friendships... Help us, your people, love each other better. Forgive us when we let "lesser issues" like music, politics, traditions, or fashion get in the way. The only thing that matters is when we express our faith through love. (Galatians 5:6)
I agree that Christians have been viewed poorly at times. I also find that sometimes we are viewed as "being better" than others. We try so hard to let people know about how God has changed our lives and can change theirs and they assume we are putting ourselves above them. I pray that he would continue to give me courage to let people know the wonderful love he continues to show me in new and exciting ways in my life. I pray that he would continue to forgive me as I don't always hear what he is trying to tell me. I pray the Lord would continue to not only show me his work in the good times but also in the bad, there is where I feel I learn some of his best lessons. Lord, please continue to work through all of my friends and family, keep them healthy, safe and on their 40 day journey. Amen
ReplyDelete