How close is your absolute closest friend to you?
Do you have a sibling(s)?
How well do you know your brother or sister?
People often say that Jesus should be your "best friend", the type of relationship should
be "that" close. But how close is that? What about your brother or sister? With some exceptions, most people know their siblings better then their best friend simply because they grew up with them. Your older brother or sister knows that you had imaginary friends as a child because they heard you "playing" with them through your door when they'd spy on you. You know that your little brother or sister has a favorite stuffed animal that they won't get rid of no matter how old they get because it's meaningful to them. Our siblings sometimes know some of the deepest, darkest secrets, embarrassing moments, and fun memories of our lives! Perhaps you don't get along with your siblings, but you still know a lot about them. The point is, why isn't our relationship with Christ like that of siblings? Does it not say we are "co-heirs with Christ"? Jesus is the Son of God, and we are called the children of God. This is an aspect I didn't even think about til recently when it was brought to my attention by a leader of my church. And as I contemplated it, I thought how much sense it made! Why not think of Christ as your brother? And why not try and get to know him as deeply as a sibling? If cultivated properly, it can be a very intimate, positive relationship! I know a lot about my brother, his likes, dislikes, his style, his hobbies, his personality, how he handles situations, I know him quite well. I need to make more effort to know Jesus as much as I know my earthly brother. If I were to know about Jesus, all of the things I know about my brother, I think I would live my life differently, since we are supposed to be more Christ-like each day. Food for thought.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
She
She was only looking for someone to love. For someone to love her back. She had always been on the boy-crazy side, and felt as though she needed to have someone by her side in order to be of any worth. She was a christian, but she knew as well as everyone else she wasn't living it out like she should be doing.
Moving from one boy to the next from week to week in her junior high years, and then trying her best to find someone she could be with during high-school. Relationship after relationship that didn't last and that meant virtually nothing. Then, she met him. He seemed perfect. The fact that he was very interested in her made him even more ideal. He said he was christian. He acted the part quite well. He had her completely fooled. She knew better. She knew he wasn't good for her. But she didn't care. She wanted to feel wanted. She didn't want to be lonely and she wanted to feel like she was worth something. Despite everyone's opposition, she allowed herself to fall for someone who wasn't worthy of her.
Always in the back of her mind, "Why doesn't God ever seem like enough?"
As time went by, his flaws were becoming more and more apparent, but she kept making excuses for his actions. Justifying his lack of self-control and misbehavior. He couldn't respect himself let alone others. But in those moments, those small, fading moments, he made her happy. But the happy never seemed to satisfy. Something was always lacking. She let herself go. Her entire being had turned into something that it shouldn't. She talked, walked, dressed differently. She was more frumpy. She let herself look in the mirror and everyday think to herself that she wasn't pretty enough, smart enough or funny enough for anyone, including him. What could she do to make sure he would still want her? He had talked about it before, it was obviously on his mind. But she knew it was wrong. She wore a ring on her right ring finger signifying that she would keep herself pure. But, what was really so bad about it? She couldn't help but think that the weight people put on purity was slightly old fashioned and unnecessary. She decided not to think about it anymore. It was all too confusing. All she could focus on was how "un-pretty" she was.
In the moment it had felt good, but now... She looked down at that purity ring that had been tarnished. It no longer applied to her. She looked in the mirror feeling even more ugly then she had before. She thought by giving herself to him she would feel beautiful and that he would want to stay with her. But now he seemed so distant. As if that's all he wanted to begin with, and now that he had what he wanted, he didn't want HER anymore. She could barely breathe. Tears burning down her red cheeks. How did she let it get this far? She knew from the beginning he wasn't worth her time, but it had felt good... Sometimes. Now it felt wrong. Nothing but wrong. The question in the back of her mind couldn't be screaming in her head anymore than it was right now; "WHY ISN'T GOD ENOUGH?"
"Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so."
Why does he love ME? She couldn't grasp it. She had neglected him, rejected him, ignored him and forsaken him. She had questioned him, doubted him, and pushed him away. She had broken her promises, his commandments and disappointed everyone around her. She had wasted all that time trying to find temporary love when she was pushing the only lasting love in her life away from her. But why?
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8
"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me." -Psalm 139:1
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." -Romans 8:35 &37
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." -Matthew 22:37
=)
Moving from one boy to the next from week to week in her junior high years, and then trying her best to find someone she could be with during high-school. Relationship after relationship that didn't last and that meant virtually nothing. Then, she met him. He seemed perfect. The fact that he was very interested in her made him even more ideal. He said he was christian. He acted the part quite well. He had her completely fooled. She knew better. She knew he wasn't good for her. But she didn't care. She wanted to feel wanted. She didn't want to be lonely and she wanted to feel like she was worth something. Despite everyone's opposition, she allowed herself to fall for someone who wasn't worthy of her.
Always in the back of her mind, "Why doesn't God ever seem like enough?"
As time went by, his flaws were becoming more and more apparent, but she kept making excuses for his actions. Justifying his lack of self-control and misbehavior. He couldn't respect himself let alone others. But in those moments, those small, fading moments, he made her happy. But the happy never seemed to satisfy. Something was always lacking. She let herself go. Her entire being had turned into something that it shouldn't. She talked, walked, dressed differently. She was more frumpy. She let herself look in the mirror and everyday think to herself that she wasn't pretty enough, smart enough or funny enough for anyone, including him. What could she do to make sure he would still want her? He had talked about it before, it was obviously on his mind. But she knew it was wrong. She wore a ring on her right ring finger signifying that she would keep herself pure. But, what was really so bad about it? She couldn't help but think that the weight people put on purity was slightly old fashioned and unnecessary. She decided not to think about it anymore. It was all too confusing. All she could focus on was how "un-pretty" she was.
In the moment it had felt good, but now... She looked down at that purity ring that had been tarnished. It no longer applied to her. She looked in the mirror feeling even more ugly then she had before. She thought by giving herself to him she would feel beautiful and that he would want to stay with her. But now he seemed so distant. As if that's all he wanted to begin with, and now that he had what he wanted, he didn't want HER anymore. She could barely breathe. Tears burning down her red cheeks. How did she let it get this far? She knew from the beginning he wasn't worth her time, but it had felt good... Sometimes. Now it felt wrong. Nothing but wrong. The question in the back of her mind couldn't be screaming in her head anymore than it was right now; "WHY ISN'T GOD ENOUGH?"
"Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so."
Why does he love ME? She couldn't grasp it. She had neglected him, rejected him, ignored him and forsaken him. She had questioned him, doubted him, and pushed him away. She had broken her promises, his commandments and disappointed everyone around her. She had wasted all that time trying to find temporary love when she was pushing the only lasting love in her life away from her. But why?
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8
"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me." -Psalm 139:1
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." -Romans 8:35 &37
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." -Matthew 22:37
=)
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