I read something in a book last night which was.. pretty awesome! The book was the bible and it said this: "But I tell you who hear me: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If some one takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking you tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back." (Luke 6:27-30)
I have read this passage before, but it hadn't really stood out to me that much. I read it again, and realised that actually, I have so much to learn. You see, I got this cup for my birthday, it's a Cath Kidson mug and I was really pleased with it. However I don't use it that often because it's quite large and I usually only want a small cup of tea or whatever, but it was still mine. Then, my sister started borrowing it and for some reason I got really annoyed. I told her not to steal it because it's mine and I didn't want her to break it. I kept getting angry with her every time she took it. Now, having read that, I could have let her take it. I could have offered to make her a cup of tea with it. When my sisters want to borrow my clothes I could let them borrow them, then they wouldn't be 'stealing'. If we share everything with everyone, there wouldn't be thieves!! If my sister takes my favourite jumper from my wardrobe, I could offer her my best hat to go with it. That is love! It's grace! It's loving like Jesus! We all think 'What Would Jesus Do?' But do we all think 'What Did Jesus Do?' Jesus gave everything he had, when people persecuted him he prayed "Father forgive them" When the poor came to him, he blessed them.
I know that I have so many things, a lot of it is junk, as Christmas comes closer I will obtain more "stuff" but there are people who own nothing but the clothes on their backs. I have so much that I can give, what stops me? I honestly don't know the answer to that question. I want to give and share but why don't I? Maybe I value my possessions far more than I should. We come into this world with nothing and we leave with nothing. So technically, that means that every possession we own, doesn't really belong to us. We're borrowing it whilst we're on this earth. If the world didn't value "stuff" so much, every one would be more satisfied. People say money doesn't buy you happiness, I don't completely agree. I think it buys happiness for a while, but it will never buy satisfaction. Some one spends their whole life saving for this one object because the media or their friends have told them that it's amazing and that it will bring them happiness. And they buy it, and it does make them happy! For a week or two they're overjoyed with this "thing" that they have, but then they see an advert for a car or a new phone and suddenly, they want that instead. The thing that they so desperately wanted, when they have it, they suddenly see it's uselessness. True happiness comes from serving other people. I'm not talking about becoming a slave, I'm talking about helping others. Some people might spit it back in your face, but the people who accept your help and are grateful, that will make you happy. When you make someone smile or say thank you or laugh, don't you feel all bubbly inside? It makes you happy knowing that others are happy. It is impossible to be happy when you are walking through a street with children dying both sides of you, a war zone in front of you. And not just because you're scared you could die, but because you see suffering. Unless your a sadist you can't smile when you watch destruction and suffering. But when you help those people, when you make a child smile, then you start to smile, knowing that you just made someone else's life worthwhile. If you're unsatisfied with life and don't feel that your life is worthwhile, it's because your not doing anything worthwhile! I can spend my time playing computer games, reading novels, lying in on the weekends, arguing with my sisters, these are all pointless things which do absolutely nothing. If I didn't do these things and instead I spent time with God, I helped my mum with the tidying, I went and spent time with old people who are dying and with newborn infants, then I would see the meaning to this life, I would be humbled.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not having a go at anyone, I do it too! I live an unsatisfying life because I am selfish and I place too much value on worldly things. I want to be humbled and full of love and grace! I can't do it on my own, that's why I need God to help me. To ask him if he will soften my heart and open doors to help people. I need him to help me get rid of the selfishness in my life and give me a heart of love. I am going to mess up, it's going to happen because I am only a human. I need God to help me, but even if I don't change, even if tomorrow I go shopping and buy lots of clothes and ignore the homeless guy on the street, God still loves me! I can't stress this enough!! You are free by grace! God died so that we don't have to earn our way to heaven, if we accept him and ask him into our lives, we are going to heaven!!!!! *CELEBRATE* but I want the most out of my life, I want to live a life full of love.
God love us so much! He thinks about us all the time! He can't take his mind of us! We are free! We are children of God! I read this the other day, it's a love letter from God, they are all verses from the bible put together to make a letter of love from our creator God. I just read it and it is quite long so I will put it on a separate post... Please read it, it's amazing!!
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