Believers are called to display such qualities as meekness, lowliness, humility and kindness. Forcing ideas and beliefs on other people is not how to win them over to any way of thinking, and Jesus understood this. He never tried to bully anyone or pressure people into following him, and yet thousands at a time were drawn to him and his message. He simply stated truth and loved others with an open heart and open arms. Those who heard him wanted to know more, wanted to understand how he could remain calm in the middle of turmoil. That is what people are still wanting today and will always want, to find peace and steadfastness in the midst of a storm.
Our duty, as Christians, is not to add to the confusion and heartache that so many people are feeling, but rather, we should be able to offer them an alternative approach to the pain of the world. Anyone can turn on the television and within moments, find someone shouting loudly (many of them claiming God as a supporter of their rants), trying to convince viewers that a certain way of thinking is the right path, while insulting those who disagree with their opinions. That may be entertaining, at some level, for some people, but it merely adds to the commotion and offers no solutions.
For peace and contentment to prevail, the message which Jesus brought must still be proclaimed today. Condemnation is to be replaced with compassion, and hardened hearts must learn about forgiveness. In light of scripture, we should ask ourselves about our own thinking and attitudes. Colossians 3:12-13 says, "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." Other scripture is equally plain in expressing how we are to behave.
While a gentle, forgiving spirit can be perceived as weakness from a worldly point of view, it is, most assuredly, a strength, a powerful force for change. Here's hoping for gentle days ahead; we need all the strength we can get.
My struggle is how so many people seem to miss what you're talking about. Was it Thomas Jefferson who perhaps first came up with the red letter edition of the New Testament? He either highlighted or extracted the words of Jesus with the idea that the message was right there in that condensed version. Jefferson was probably right. To me what you're talking about is so clear--I have known Jesus in the past--I know it when I do some things in a Christ-like way. I just don't do it as often as I should.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I never want to leave the impression that I have everything "all figured out," but some things seem so obvious! Sometimes, I think others are not reading the same Bible I am (and I do like to concentrate on the words of Jesus)...or maybe they're not reading the Bible at all!
ReplyDeleteas always, THANKS for the post....according to wiki:
ReplyDeleteThe Jefferson Bible, or The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth as it is formally titled, was Thomas Jefferson's effort to extract the doctrine of Jesus by removing sections of the New Testament containing supernatural aspects as well as perceived misinterpretations he believed had been added by the Four Evangelists.[1][2]