A Thought (OK, a few words)
from the Minister's Desk
from Kurt Langland, Evangelist
DANGER: LIVES UNDER CONSTRUCTION
No doubt about it: God has an important plan for each of our lives. He desires that each of us become more and more like Christ. From Max Lucado's book, Just Like Jesus we find the statement: "The same one who saved our soul longs to remake our heart. His plan is nothing short of a total transformation: 'He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son' (Rom. 8:29 MSG)." "You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you true knowledge of God," Col. 3:10
One of the most important "walls" to be "constructed" in our new lives in order to become more like Jesus is the ability to forgive. For we have been instructed: "Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." Col. 3:13 (TLB).
In Trust Like Jesus, by Max Lucado, he illustrates how Christ is the ultimate picture of forgiveness. He states the following:
"Jesus himself knew the feeling of being stuck with someone. For three years he ran with the same crew... and I wonder, how did Jesus stay so devoted to his men? Not only did he have to put up with their visible oddities, he had to endure their invisible foibles. Think about it. He could near their unspoken thoughts. He knew their private doubts. Not only that he knew their future doubts. What if you knew every mistake your loved ones ever made and every mistake they would ever make?. . .
Was it hard for Jesus to love Peter, knowing Peter would some day curse him? Was it tough to trust Thomas, knowing Thomas would one day question Jesus' resurrection? . . . How was he able to love people who were hard to like? . . .
Of all the times we see the bowing knees of Jesus, none is so precious as when he kneels before his disciples and washes their feet. . . You can be sure Jesus knows the future of these feet he is washing. These twenty-four feet will not spend the next day following their master, defending his cause. These feet will dash for cover at the at the flash of a Roman sword. . . . I looked for a Bible translation that reads 'Jesus washed all the disciples feet except the feet of Judas', but I couldn't find one. What a passionate moment when Jesus silently lifts the feet of his betrayer and washes them in the basin! Within hours the feet of Judas, cleansed by the kindness of the one he will betray, will stand in Caiaphas's court. Behold the gift Jesus gives his followers! He knows what these men are about to do. He knows they are about to perform the vilest act of their lives. By morning they will bury their heads in shame and look at their feet in disgust. . . .
Remarkable. He forgave their sin before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they even sought it. . . .
Oh, I could never do that, you object. The hurt is too deep. The wounds are so numerous. Just seeing the person causes me to cringe. . . .Perhaps you are seeing the wrong person or at least too much of the wrong person. Remember, the secret of being just like Jesus 'is fixing our eyes' on him. Try shifting your glance away from the one who hurt you and setting your eyes on the one who has saved you. . . . What does it mean to have a heart like his? It means to kneel as Jesus knelt, touching the grimy parts of the people we are stuck with and washing away their unkindness with kindness. Or as Paul wrote, 'Be kind and loving to each other and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ' (Eph. 4:32). But,. . . you are saying, 'I've done nothing wrong. I'm not the one who cheated. I'm not the one who lied. I'm not the guilty party here.' Perhaps you aren't. But neither was Jesus. Of all the men in that room, only one was worthy of having his feet washed. And he was the one who washed the feet. The one worthy of being served, served others. THE GENIUS OF JESUS' EXAMPLE IS THAT THE BURDEN OF BRIDGE BUILDING FALLS ON THE STRONG ONE, NOT THE WEAK ONE. THE ONE WHO IS INNOCENT IS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE GESTURE.
And you know what happens? More often that not, if the one in the right volunteers to wash the feet of the one in the wrong, both parties get on their knees. Don't we all think we are right? Hence we wash each others's feet. Please understand. RELATIONSHIPS DON'T THRIVE BECAUSE THE GUILTY ARE PUNISHED BUT BECAUSE THE INNOCENT ARE MERCIFUL. . . Certain conflicts can be resolved only with a basin of water. Are any relationships in your world thirsty for mercy? Are there any sitting around your table who need to be assured of your grace? Jesus made sure his disciples had no reason to doubt his love. Why don't you do the same?" (Emphasis added).
Jesus was able to love his disciples and us because he forgives. God please change our hearts so that we can be more like Jesus as we forgive each other.
DANGER: LIVES UNDER CONSTRUCTION
