I have spent several weeks thinking about and writing about the Holy Spirit, His gifts and the fruits of those gifts. I thought I was finished with that subject matter for a while but I can’t shake the need to share these thoughts with you. As I listen to the nightly news (the outlet isn’t important), peruse social media, hear people talking in public; I am saddened that the most important of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, the second most important commandment from God himself (Matthew 22:35-40 ESV), is being found in such short supply in today’s socio-political climate. People are so intolerant, so hate-filled. I, for one, am losing patience. If we could just find some common ground, some respect. It should be easy to do. There is no cost, no qualification; all you need is Love.
The Solution is Simple
My apologies to the Fab Four for borrowing their title. And now the song is playing in both our heads. Cool. Thanks, guys. But I digress.
Credit: John Hain; Pixabay
Could not most of the problems that we face today be solved if more people practiced the love that we are called to by God. If we would just love one another. I think that love of self has gone too far. Don’t get me wrong. I have a love for myself as God’s creation. I have been gifted with grace and mercy beyond measure. I pray that I will use those gifts for God’s glory, I believe that is the reason that they were poured out on this broken sinner. I am not the point of God’s Creation. I am a servant (I pray to be, daily), helping to fulfill His plan.
Compassion On The Cross
Mankind was given the perfect example of love, unconditional, in the person of Christ Jesus. He loved us so much that he gave His life up to death on the cross so that our sins would be forgiven, giving us direct access to the Father through prayer, and giving us life eternal through that death and resurrection.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 ESV
Credit: Pixabay
Can’t We Just All Get Along?
Are we not hearing the right words from the pulpit of our churches on Sundays? Is no one paying attention? Or are we making a conscious choice to live as though those words don’t apply to us? And when there are hatred and violence committed against one another in our cities; where are our churches? Why are they so often silent? Why are they not among the first on the scene to heal the hurt and to bring the love of Christ into the places where it is needed most?
All You Need is Love
Look, I am not perfect. I am not saying that loving everyone is easy. It isn’t. What I know is that love is a healing salve that can cure a whole sack full of hurt. Our world will not get better by itself. We are headed on an express lane toward the End of Days and the only way to slow down the runaway hatred and despair is to apply that salve liberally. You may not be able to change the whole world, but you can make your portion of it a better place… all you need is love.
Credit: Pixabay
Abba, Father, fill us with a love for each other that flows from us like the waters of a great river. Take away any fears that keep us from sharing that love with those who need it most. Create in us compassionate hearts and guide us to show that compassion unashamedly. All this we ask in Jesus’ name, who was the perfect example of your love. Amen
I heard someone on the radio say this morning that kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see. I was struck by the simplicity of this profound statement. Kindness, like common sense, is a flower that does not grow in everyone’s garden. What a shame! Remember back in the 90’s when the trend in vogue was to perform “random acts of kindness?” Why should these acts have been random? Why not habitual acts of kindness? And why did kindness need to be a fad like bell bottoms or hula-hoops or pet rocks?
Kindness should be a fundamental building block to be taught to our children at an early age. It should go hand in hand with teaching a child to walk or speak or to practice good manners. What would our world look like today if every child learned to first be kind? There would be no need for gun control in a world where we practiced kindness first.
Mantle of Integrity
Kindness is a thread to be woven into the mantle of Integrity. The concept of integrity is as a garment to be worn everywhere we go. Kindness should stand out in the weave like a thread of gold. We are never too old to practice kindness, never too young. I believe we should practice kindness to all we meet. We are called to it. Paul instructs us thus in his Epistle to the Colossians.
“12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:12-14
Also in Paul’s letter to the Church at Ephesus:
“32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
Kindness is a virtue
So, kindness is a virtue to be practiced according to the Bible, not only that, it is an ointment to a tired soul. Kindness has double benefits. It is not only a gift to the recipient but also the practitioner. Kindness relieves one’s heavier burdens of anger and bitterness. It is no fun carrying that stuff around. Be kind. Kindness is habit forming like a drug or Coca-Cola, but this habit is good for you. Besides, who would not rather be known as a nice guy or girl, rather than a nasty, pain in the backside. More flies with honey, you know.
Kindness is a cornerstone of love. Kindness may be interchangeable with compassion, and mercy. All of these are components of the character of Jesus Christ. I pray to be more like Jesus daily; to be able to show the love of Jesus to strangers, friends and family alike. Most days my prayers are answered. Some days, not so much.
Careful what you pack
I used to urge my Boy Scouts, yes, I was a Boy Scout leader, to treat their character as a suitcase. Something in which they would pack away essential things to be pulled out and used upon occasion. I would tell them that their suitcase would also be unpacked at the time of their passing. The things that they had packed away would be seen, remembered by others. I would encourage them to fill their suitcase with integrity, kindness, faithfulness, generosity, and respect (for themselves and others). These traits would become the way that they would like to be remembered.
What will your friends and family find in your suitcase? I pray that kindness is prominent amongst your possessions. It is a language that we can all understand.
I assume you have guessed by now, with the many music references, that I am an audio junkie. All the way back to my high school days, Koss High-Velocity headphones on, the Allman Brothers full tilt; I would while away countless hours. Music has been my escape as far back as I can remember. Back in the day, we played vinyl, good old scratchy vinyl. One of my favorite parts of buying records was finding the liner notes. Yes, I was the geek that would read every word. I knew every tune and every sideman. Who played for whom? It has served me well over the years as I moved from rock and roll to jazz and blues back to classic rock and blues rock to modern blues rock and contemporary Christian music. I still read the liner notes when I can find them, although they are harder to find with today’s digital format.
Most of us know the feeling of having a song stuck in our heads. Sometimes it is a good thing, in the case of a good or great tune. Sometimes it is a bad tune, a mind-numbing nuisance. Sometimes you wake up with it, sometimes you catch a piece of it on your favorite audio source. Sometimes a mischievous friend will implant it in your brain. Think of this lovely beauty from back in the day (click at your own risk). Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Enough of that. I said all that as an introduction to a recent discovery. God has sent me a message in a song and I can’t escape the lyrics. Driven to do my best to follow their suggestion, I went looking for the lyric sheet. I discovered that the song was penned by two of my favorites in today’s contemporary Christian music scene. The song is “Jesus, Friend of Sinners,” written by Mark Hall of Casting Crowns and Matthew West and performed by Casting Crowns. It goes like this…
“Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth’s become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they’re tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I’m so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours
Yeah
Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who’s writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we’re for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours
You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they’re the reason that You came
Lord, I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet
‘Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours
And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet”
Just let the words wash over you for a moment. So many calls to show compassion and the words that stick in my mind, the prayer to “break our hearts for what breaks Yours.” Many of us pray for help to become more Christ-like. I do, daily; I pray for a servant’s heart and to grow to be more Christ-like. It is something for which I need many corrective nudges from above. Some days I do better than just break even. I still have much work to do.
Many, if not most of us are too quick to judge, too slow to show compassion. The homeless beggar who has his hand out in front of our favorite fast-food stop more often than not provokes anger or aggravation, not empathy. Aren’t most of us just a few bad decisions and a lost paycheck or two from being in those same shoes?
And lest we forget, we are all broken sinners. Remember that the Bible tells us that “None is righteous, no, not one;”( Romans 3:10 ESV) and “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23 ESV). For me, being more compassionate seemed a good place to start. It costs nothing. My natural inclination is closer to turning a blind eye or something nearer to cynicism than compassion. We don’t all have a lot of money to give the homeless person or the orphan child but we all have the smile God gave us and the warmth of our hearts. Kindness goes a long way toward healing wounded souls.
Friends, I am no saint. This is in no form a lecture or righteous chest thumping. It is merely the observation of a struggling, broken man who is trying to make his little spot in this world a better place. My days have become less stress-filled since I first began to practice having a servant’s heart. My bookstore has become somewhat of a sanctuary. Often a place of prayer. A place where students often come just to say hello, or to brag about a new job or another life point. My students even complain when I am out of the office and they have to deal with someone else. Pretty funny, considering that my daughter is usually the “someone else.” Many of my students even came around hoping for a report on my recent surgery and recovery process. Kindness is infectious. Jesus called it the second great commandment.
37… you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39 ESV)I may be wrong but it seems to me that if we all followed this commandment more closely, the world would be a far better place. I was once asked by a new acquaintance if I was a minister. My best response was “not nearly often enough.” I was pleased by his confusion. Today, I would be overjoyed to be asked if I was a disciple.
Contrary to what is apparent by observing our western societal norms Christianity, specifically Discipleship, is NOT a spectator sport. We, as Disciples of Christ, are called to action by Jesus himself. Most of us have heard of The Great Commission as recorded in Matthew’s Gospel.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt.28:19-20 ESV
Perhaps not so often quoted, the Apostle Mark also wrote of Jesus’ last set of instructions, just before ascending into Heaven. Mark gave us this account of The Savior’s last words.
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18 ESV
Though Jesus spoke specifically to the Eleven (Judas Iscariot had already hanged himself in shame over The Betrayal), I can’t imagine that his words were only intended for those ears. The implication here is clearly that this teaching is to spread from teacher to follower, that follower becoming a teacher, and in turn teaching a new group of followers and so on through the ages to present day.
All too often, we are complacent to allow our Pastors and Deacons to carry the load. To be the teacher. We, as followers, are happy to tune in on Sunday mornings. Feeling satisfied that we have done our duty to God by our mere presence in Church. After all, we sang. We heard the sermon or the homily (can’t leave out Catholics). We even took Communion. What more does He want?
Tighten your seat belts folks! Here comes the big question! We call ourselves the Body of Christ. How can we be the hands and feet of Christ if we are sitting on our hands with our feet propped up in the grandstands? Pretty much just what many of us are doing. It is time for us to get up, get in the game.
Anybody can do it. We must do it. Before you say that you aren’t qualified or that you are afraid you will fail, consider these lyrics from Broken Things by Matthew West.
“The pages of history they tell me it’s true
That it’s never the perfect; it’s always the ones with the scars that You use
It’s the rebels and the prodigals; it’s the humble and the weak
The misfit heroes You chose
Tell me there’s hope for sinners like me”
The Body of Christ is so necessary today. Don’t believe it. Look at the violence in the streets, the racial unrest, and those stupid pink hats. We need to stand up. Stand up for Christ. He certainly stood up for us, all the way to the Cross of Calvary. We don’t have to be deal closers but we have to be present in the deal. The movement started over two thousand years ago. We just need to place our shoulders to the stone and make it roll again.
Kindness should be a fundamental building block to be taught to our children at an early age. It should go hand in hand with teaching a child to walk or speak or to practice good manners. What would our world look like today if every child learned to first be kind? There would be no need for gun control in a world where we practiced kindness first.
things to be pulled out and used upon occasion. I would tell them that their suitcase would also be unpacked at the time of their passing. The things that they had packed away would be seen, remembered by others. I would encourage them to fill their suitcase with integrity, kindness, faithfulness, generosity, and respect (for themselves and others). These traits would become the way that they would like to be remembered.
I may be wrong but it seems to me that if we all followed this commandment more closely, the world would be a far better place. I was once asked by a new acquaintance if I was a minister. My best response was “not nearly often enough.” I was pleased by his confusion. Today, I would be overjoyed to be asked if I was a disciple.