“Ugh! My brain is melting!” My daughter came into my bedroom office and dramatically—she was 12 at the time—flung herself on the bed, collapsing into a frustrated and matted mass of hair and pillows.
Another school year had begun, and my extroverted and creative daughter was in heavy combat with her most difficult subject: math…and she was losing. I turned from my work and was about to give her some of my fatherly “wisdom” from a lifetime of hatred—I mean, difficulty—with the same subject, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted some movement.
I turned my head to see her 8-year-old brother, like a silent, small cat, sneak up behind her, softly climb on the bed next to her, and gently put his arm around her. They both lay there—perfectly still and not saying a word. After several minutes he dug through the pillows and hair and planted a kiss on her cheek. He then promptly got off the bed and went about his 8-year-old-ness.
Shortly thereafter, my daughter got up and with a huge grin on her face—and singing to herself—thoroughly refreshed, picked up her sword (pencil), and rejoined the battle.
Love Like Crazy!
I was speechless and tearful. I had just witnessed the best metaphor for what it means to be a Christian in this world. In the midst of others’ pain, despair, heartache, disease, depression, destruction, and death, we, as Christians, are called to comfort and love others just as my son did for my daughter. Jesus calls us to literally love like crazy!
My man Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome:
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable” (Romans 12:10-17, NLT).
Living out the Messiah in Me
I have a question for you: where in your life can you do something to rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn? Jesus, in announcing to the world that He, indeed was the long promised Messiah, read Isaiah 61: 1, 2:
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.”
Jesus was describing in broad terms what He would do for others, but I would like to tell you, that if you are a follower of Jesus, and seek to be like Him, then this scripture can be a model for you find a way to love others; but not just love them a little—no, decide to love them with your whole heart!
I’ve included below a link to “Adventist Community Services.” I encourage you to take some time to check out the website and then pray and consider and talk to the people in your life about seeking how you can, like Jesus, be used by God to bring good news to the poor; comfort the brokenhearted; or proclaim the captives and prisoners will be released.
In my experience, if you take the time to stop, consider, think, discuss, pray, and plan, God is willing to and will use you to bless others in a powerful way!
So, today, you can tell Jesus: “through Your Holy Spirit power, I give You permission to live out your Messiahship in me!”
And if you give Him permission, He will do it! Today, choose to be like my son and pray today that God will help you to see the world with His eyes and then be His hands, His feet, His mouth, and His heart.
Just don’t kiss any strangers!
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