The nice thing about a blog is that I can write whatever I want. I find it’s been so helpful for me to write as I process things I think about or learn about. Actually publishing it on a blog just helps me to stay accountable with actually taking time to write. It helps me hash out all the ideas in my head. So I don’t necessarily think I’m always right or wrong or that everyone should be changed by what I write. It’s just for me. But as always, I’m glad if anyone else finds enjoyment or enlightenment from my writing as well. Here’s what I’ve been thinking about in the last couple of days:
It’s the season of Epiphany. The season of light. God made manifest. The fulfillment of God’s promise to provide us with a savior.
I like hearing the stories of the wise men, of Jesus’ baptism, and the beginning of His ministry. It’s a season of hope, which will culminate with the resurrection.
Jesus did so much in his life on earth.
But what is expected of me?
I read yesterday from Matthew 7:
21 Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven, 22 On that day many will say to me, “Lord,Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” 23 Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.”
That is scary. Imagine being cast aside and called an evildoer. Especially after thinking I had done what was asked of me.
So what is expected of me?
Matthew 22: 36-39 – “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
I think it is interesting that Jesus puts these on equal footing. Loving my neighbor as myself is like loving my God. They are intertwined. In this day in age…I could probably say anyone in the world was my neighbor.
So where am I succeeding? Where am I failing? I’m not really expected to love everyone…right?….like what about the murders? What about those panhandlers that everyone just dismisses by saying, “Oh, they only want booze or drugs.” What about the people who have different political beliefs or the ones who reject my beliefs?
Jesus is pretty explicit. Love your neighbor. That includes everyone.
It’s so easy to become desensitized to the need in our world. It’s so easy to be turned off by sweeping statistics and by crisis after crisis. It’s so easy to think that someone else is more rich or more capable of helping orphans in Africa or homeless in my city. It’s so easy to say…I’ll help later…when I have more time…when I have more money…when my kids are grown….
But I’m not called to change the world. I’m just called to love my neighbor. And that includes offering whatever I have for God to use…be it small or large, be it money or passion or time volunteered….and I’m to offer it now. Moses only had a staff and stuttering speech and look what God did with those.
God claimed Jesus as his son at his baptism in the Jordan. In Jesus we also have a teacher…an example. I need to live my faith and show my faith in the way I interact with my neighbors.