I came across this a few days ago when I was reading Greg Nettle’s blog. He is a minister friend that serves at a church in Ohio. God’s doing some great things through Greg and the church. Anyway, even though several days have passed since I first read these. I keep coming back to them. (By the way, the context for Greg’s writing is that he’s on a trip through the Holy Land.)
Here you go:
This is the essence
This morning I spent two hours on the Mount of Beatitudes-the traditional site where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
After some general information about the location we were told to simply go spend time with God. I spent the next several minutes reading through the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5-7. And then I reread it . . . only this time asking God to speak into my life.
Matthew 7:12 came alive to me: Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of ALL that is taught in the law and the prophets.
Okay, at a very young age I memorized the Golden Rule. Perhaps that’s why I don’t pay too much attention to it. It’s for little kids. Didn’t Jesus say, “Unless you become like a little child . . .” Hmmm.
So I wrote in my journal:
If I were an orphan I would want someone to adopt me.
I were ill I would want someone to care for me.
If I were elderly and alone I would want someone to visit me.
If I were oppressed I would want someone to fight for me.
If I were wealthy I would want someone to teach me how to invest for eternity.
If I were addicted I would want someone to love me unconditionally.
If I were to win I would want someone to celebrate with me.
If I were on a journey I would want someone to walk beside me.
If I were weeping I would want someone to hold me.
This is the essence . . .
July 28, 2009 at 9:21 am
While reading this post, I was thinking about how my thoughts have changed since we starting going to FCC eight years ago from “what can the church do for me” to “I am the church.”
It is now very hard for me to listen to people talk about how the church didn’t do this or that for them. These comments have come from people that have been going to the church longer than we have and still refuse to become members because of what they feel will be expected of them.
I also get frustrated when people talk about how they can’t seem to get connected, yet they don’t put in any effort to serve or take anyone up on invitations to get involved in bible study or events that take place (again from people that have been going to church for awhile). I was actually surprised when someone asked me one time, “How can I get to be part of the “in” crowd at church?” I thought that was an interesting question.