If you give your son a cookie...
Me, handing a cookie to Sam: Please give this to Bella.
Sam to Bella, rudely: Saaay please!
Me to Sam: No. She doesn't have to say please to you. I gave instructions to you to give her something, from me. You don't get to put requirements on my gift.
The moment I finished speaking it out, I knew the words were for me.
Maybe they are for you too. Let's see.
I have gifts, talents, characteristics that I call "mine." Because I deem them as "mine" when I give them to people I often put stipulations on them. For example: I'll be kind, if you are kind back. I will be encouraging, if you are my friend. I will be generous, if you affirm me for it.
And while I may not always consciously think these thoughts outright; they are deep in me. How often are they my drivers? How often are they the reason I act & do, what I do.? Why am I asking myself these questions?
Y'all I am... Selfish. Messy. Insecure. Controlling. The list goes on. My humanity, is all about me. All the good things that I claim, kindness, empathy, compassion, generosity, willingness to serve, joy, peace, hope... those are all from God. I was made from God's own character. The gifts I have were gifted to me. The talents I claim As "mine" were presented by God to myself.
I'm seeing a pattern.
The negative parts of me, the "me-centric" things are here and easy. All the positive parts of me, or anything that has grown under my care is because it was first placed there by God.
So *insert DEEP sigh here* when I exclude people, ignore people, effect my own forms of justice, or qualify my output in any way (that is not approved by God); I am acting like Sam with the cookie.
Saaaay please before I love you like God commanded me. Earn it before you get the encouragement, help, service, the love God has asked me to give you.
Y'all, I am sorry. I am sorry that I have acted entitled while requiring you to prove your worth. It was wrong.
God forgive me for placing those You adore in a less than category. I was wrong.
And God, I forgive anyone who as done the same to me. We are messy.
The lovely news is still the same. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whomsoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2
We are not alone in our struggle to be the delivery system of God's love to His creation. Jesus made the way. His was was completely counter to societal expectations. It was through service and accountable community. It was through, dare I say it, undeserved & unqualified love. it was through, 100% submission to the Father.
We have the privilege of following His lead.
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Romans 12:4-8
We have gifts. We are all valued the same in the eyes of God. We are called to love God and love others like we love ourselves.
"Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.'" Matthew 22:37-40
Soooooooooooooo...... what are your gifts, talents, characteristics?
I guarantee you they were set in you, by God, for more than just your benefit.
I know the pain of withholding a gift, forgiveness, or an encouragement to someone. I can think of many moments that I held back for fear or selfishness. I want to be done with that life. I want to work at being less driven by my humanness and more like Jesus. I want to give. DO you want to give?
Let's give together!
If you give your son a cookie, then God will show you something new!
