- Oct 31, 2023
- 3 min read
“That means that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — Adonai is the same for everyone, rich toward everyone who calls on him, since everyone who calls on the name of Adonai will be delivered” (Romans (Rom) 10:12-13). Adonai is the same for everyone. Sometimes we forget that those who bother us, ridicule us, and hate us are still created in the image of the same God. The same God that can change our lives and save us from futility and death. The same God that can save us from fear and sin. The same God that saves and refines our lives can save and refine those that mock and hate us. So, don’t get discouraged. Be content in the power of God.
A lot of my problems with God are when I try to do His job rather than do my job. A lot of my problems occur when I think I can do God’s job better than Him. A lot of my problems come from that idolatry of enthroning myself over Him. The hubris of humanity in thinking we have any idea how to be God when we can barely handle being human and carrying His likeness. We, or more personally, I do such a terrible job of bearing His image that I can hardly believe I could handle being Him.
Yet, that is what you and I do. We sit around and think we know how to do His job better than Him. And we can barely bear His image. When Jesus tells us “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor — and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that! And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that” (Mattityahu (Mat) 5:43-47), instead we hate and kill. When Jesus tells us “Do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal. Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal. For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also” (Mattityahu (Mat) 6:19-21), instead we want more for ourselves. When Jesus tells us, “Always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that sums up the teaching of the Torah and the Prophets. Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Mattityahu (Mat) 7:12-14), instead we seek the easy way of the world.
I think it is time for us to work on living more like Jesus than bringing down judgment like God. God gave you and I a perfect example of how humans should live. Maybe if I spent a little more time imitating Jesus, then the world would be a better place? That is no maybe.
Folks don’t want to live like Jesus because it means killing a lot of what allows them to be like everyone else. And that can be remedied by simply spending more time with other folks that also want to be like Jesus rather than folks that want to be their own god.
Seek first His Kingdom which rests on the foundation of love.
Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!
I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!