I am a creature of habit. I joke that I am a type C person. One who thrives on structure and routine but can chase every rabbit and squirrel with the best of them. Every single morning on the way to school, the kids and I rotate through our favorite songs on our Forrest Frank pandora station. Because let’s be honest: “God is good all the time, if he ain’t, then you’re lying.”
Once our karaoke has ended and we have arrived to school, I walk the kiddos to their morning drop off spots. Every single morning I leave them with four phrases:
1- I love you.
2- Have an amazing day.
3-Be kind to others.
4-Be a Leader.
If I’m being completely transparent, most days I need to be reminded of these phrases just as much as they do.
Our world is filled with so much discourse. We are choosing hate over love, and that’s because we are being self seeking over seeking God. I can’t cause life altering change in our world from little ol’ Saratoga, but what I can do is raise my kids to love their neighbor. Love them without boundaries. Love them despite their political affiliation, nationality, sexual orientation, or religious belief. Because in Romans 5:8 the Bible tells us that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God sent his son to die for us KNOWING we were going to fail him, doubt him, and sin against him. He knew we were worth it. All of us.
Jesus knew his disciples well, especially their weaknesses and the things they struggled with. Isn’t it great that the Bible supercedes time, and we can learn through the scripture how to deal with those same struggles today! Like the parable of the wedding feast in Luke 14. He tells us: “When you are invited to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, in case someone more important than you is invited. And then when they ask you to give them your seat, you will be embarrassed because you have to move. BUT when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he comes to you he can say, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Every single day we pass judgement. Notice, I said WE. We are human. We are flawed. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. We have ALL been lost at one time or another. Often times when we point a finger at others, we usually have three pointing back at us. Isn’t it crazy that when we talk to people about Christianity we expect them to fill out a check list, when salvation is offered to us for free? As long as we obey the gospel? “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
We can’t require perfection from others, while expecting grace to be given to us. The apostle Paul referred to him self as the “chief of sinners” but yet was so confident in his salvation that was found through Jesus.
Thank goodness for Jesus. For God’s grace. For his mercy. Jesus doesn’t keep score cards, and neither should we.
Rays of Sunshine inc 