How can I bless you?
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what YOU can do for your country!" -JFK
Matthew 20:28
"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
This is the idea of proactivity (rather than reactivity). Focusing on how you can contribute, and never based on what others are doing (your choice not based on enviroment).
Jesus lived it best... think about what he said (in that verse above). Life isn't about what others can do for you, it is about what you can do for others.. and you can do SO much. Maybe someone just really irritates you.. Maybe even worse, they try to or actually cause you physical harm (hopefully not severe). Well, it is very easy to get angry with that person and decide to dislike them, avoid them, or eye-for-an-eye (get back at them).
But Jesus calls us a different way. Right after he starts his sermon on the Mount, Jesus changes the whole way things were generally looked at. He explains with "You have heard that...", "But I say...". One such saying is Matthew 5:38 - "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[g] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
If your interested in this idea read all of Matthew 5. It is Sa-weet! But anyways, Moriah Scheidler (sp?) brought this idea upto attention the other day during a CRU meeting, and I couldn't more whole-heartedly agree. "How can I bless you?" is so counter cultural. It is a difficult thing to do. But what a rich life we all would lead if we asked ourselves these questions, and took to habit what Jesus spoke of.
Last thing - 43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
How can you bless the "annoying/obnoxious/mean/slanderious" people around you?
Matthew 20:28
"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
This is the idea of proactivity (rather than reactivity). Focusing on how you can contribute, and never based on what others are doing (your choice not based on enviroment).
Jesus lived it best... think about what he said (in that verse above). Life isn't about what others can do for you, it is about what you can do for others.. and you can do SO much. Maybe someone just really irritates you.. Maybe even worse, they try to or actually cause you physical harm (hopefully not severe). Well, it is very easy to get angry with that person and decide to dislike them, avoid them, or eye-for-an-eye (get back at them).
But Jesus calls us a different way. Right after he starts his sermon on the Mount, Jesus changes the whole way things were generally looked at. He explains with "You have heard that...", "But I say...". One such saying is Matthew 5:38 - "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[g] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
If your interested in this idea read all of Matthew 5. It is Sa-weet! But anyways, Moriah Scheidler (sp?) brought this idea upto attention the other day during a CRU meeting, and I couldn't more whole-heartedly agree. "How can I bless you?" is so counter cultural. It is a difficult thing to do. But what a rich life we all would lead if we asked ourselves these questions, and took to habit what Jesus spoke of.
Last thing - 43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
How can you bless the "annoying/obnoxious/mean/slanderious" people around you?
This comment is in place where Moriah should have commented.. *sigh*
Posted by
Sean Raybuck |
1:01 PM
hahaha.......... =) I feel like my comments are important-- thanks sean! It was fun hanging out with you Monday- good conversations in the midst of large group hangouts are rare. I wrote something similar to your thoughts on my blog today. Happy turkey day!
Posted by
Anonymous |
1:44 PM