An Insighful Moment About Character
I think this is a lovely way to look at the sermon on the mount. I think it presents a beautiful picture of who Christ really is. Doesn’t matter really what He looks like anyway because God doesn’t look on the outside, He looks on the heart. And that heart is what we are supposed to be mimicking.
For the first time in this book, I could really see how Christ loved. My mind too often pictures Jesus with the beautiful pictures of the Sunday school books. Even though they may be sick or lame or blind, they still have smiles on their faces, perfect skin and model hair. Even the leper a few stories back looks more like a nice mummy than a man with rotting flesh. It has always been hard for my mind to wrap around what these people most likely looked like. Dirty. Gaunt. Smelly. Ugly. Big noses. Bald. Fat. Sick. Dying. Not that some of them weren’t beautiful – although Im sure to Jesus, those that followed Him were the most beautiful people in the world – because unlike us, He looks at the insides, not the outsides.
It is easy for me to see Christ loving the beautiful people because that is what I would do. It is hard grasping the concept that Christ loved all those unlovable people – the rejected ones, the dirty ones, the dying ones. He didn’t recoil when they reached for Him (like I might do). He didn’t inadvertently stare at their sores, wondering if they hurt (like I might do). He didn’t feel uncomfortable talking to whoever sought Him out (like I might be).
I am finding out how un-Christ-like I really am.
I am learning lessons in love. It isn’t the pretty images that the world offers us on Valentines Day. It isn’t a butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling. It isn’t being doted upon with lavish gifts. It isn’t sexy with champagne. It isn’t little hearts drawn on your 8th grade notebook….
Love is loving. Its reaching out to others – even the ones, especially the ones, that make you uncomfortable. It is being the understanding one to the one that hates you. It is being a friend to the lonely. It is being laughter to the one who is sick. Its being the acceptance to the one who is rejected. Its giving even when you don’t feel like it. And not just the actions, but the heart that goes with it. I guess Paul got it right….
It [love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. -1 Corinthians 13:7-8a
I am striving to reach past the world’s idea of conditional love and take hold of the unconditional love that is Christ.
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On a sidenote: Today is Ash Wendesday, and I am very excited. Just wondering if all of y’all were participating in Lent as well. I just wanted to put it out there what I was giving up so I can have some accountability on it. I am learning a new Bible verse every day, and am limiting my time on the internet to an hour and a half a day. The Scripture memorization is a weakness that I want to grow stronger on. The internet, I feel, has become an addiction. I am just so thankful that God put you girls in my life. You have helped effect a greater change in my attitude, which I am so thankful for. Thank you for letting yourselves by used by God and by me.
For the first time in this book, I could really see how Christ loved. My mind too often pictures Jesus with the beautiful pictures of the Sunday school books. Even though they may be sick or lame or blind, they still have smiles on their faces, perfect skin and model hair. Even the leper a few stories back looks more like a nice mummy than a man with rotting flesh. It has always been hard for my mind to wrap around what these people most likely looked like. Dirty. Gaunt. Smelly. Ugly. Big noses. Bald. Fat. Sick. Dying. Not that some of them weren’t beautiful – although Im sure to Jesus, those that followed Him were the most beautiful people in the world – because unlike us, He looks at the insides, not the outsides.
It is easy for me to see Christ loving the beautiful people because that is what I would do. It is hard grasping the concept that Christ loved all those unlovable people – the rejected ones, the dirty ones, the dying ones. He didn’t recoil when they reached for Him (like I might do). He didn’t inadvertently stare at their sores, wondering if they hurt (like I might do). He didn’t feel uncomfortable talking to whoever sought Him out (like I might be).
I am finding out how un-Christ-like I really am.
I am learning lessons in love. It isn’t the pretty images that the world offers us on Valentines Day. It isn’t a butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling. It isn’t being doted upon with lavish gifts. It isn’t sexy with champagne. It isn’t little hearts drawn on your 8th grade notebook….
Love is loving. Its reaching out to others – even the ones, especially the ones, that make you uncomfortable. It is being the understanding one to the one that hates you. It is being a friend to the lonely. It is being laughter to the one who is sick. Its being the acceptance to the one who is rejected. Its giving even when you don’t feel like it. And not just the actions, but the heart that goes with it. I guess Paul got it right….
It [love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. -1 Corinthians 13:7-8a
I am striving to reach past the world’s idea of conditional love and take hold of the unconditional love that is Christ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On a sidenote: Today is Ash Wendesday, and I am very excited. Just wondering if all of y’all were participating in Lent as well. I just wanted to put it out there what I was giving up so I can have some accountability on it. I am learning a new Bible verse every day, and am limiting my time on the internet to an hour and a half a day. The Scripture memorization is a weakness that I want to grow stronger on. The internet, I feel, has become an addiction. I am just so thankful that God put you girls in my life. You have helped effect a greater change in my attitude, which I am so thankful for. Thank you for letting yourselves by used by God and by me.
posted by dangermama at
9:10 AM
3 Comments:
I think you should share your verse with us each day!
I think this is a beautiful way to focus on Lent. I fear my ability to memorize ANYTHING except song lyrics seems to be long gone. I've tried and tried and it totally escapes me. Although, oddly enough, I can usually remember WHERE to find the verse but not the verse itself!
As for your post...Man, did that hit home. I, even in church, tend to flock to the "beautiful" people - the ones rich in smiles and hugs. It's still hard for me to move in the direction of the ones that have a chip on their shoulder or a heavy load on their heart because I know it will be a struggle for me to hang with them through their problems.
It's time for ME to do this also - step up and love the unlovable and do it without a fake "Christian-so-I-have-to" kind of love. Oh, this is so very hard...
By
HeyJules, at 9:40 AM
"And not just the actions, but the heart that goes with it."
A very well stated post, Addie. And, one we all fall short in, right along side of you. We want to turn and run when we meet something that is frightening to us. And, heaven forbid we should be found hanging with "problem" people...I mean, it might rub off on us, people might think that WE are like them! Great thoughts!
By
Pilot Mom, at 10:06 AM
Addie, your heart is so far advanced already... the very fact that you think on these things and are willing to admit you fail (in the same ways we all do) is so refreshing and such an inspiration to me. Someone once told me "love is not a feeling, but a decision." It is exactly those unlovable looking people that will bring out (or not) that decision in us. How blessed we are to have them in our midst...
By
Claire Joy, at 10:07 AM
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