Why did Jesus become a Christian?
Now, don't scratch your heads too hard...there is method in my madness (or is it 'madness in my method'..?).
What I mean is, well, a Christian is someone who follows Jesus, and acts like Him right?
So He had to act in a certain way in the beginning...right?
And why did He do that? (Cue the music from Jeopardy...duh di duh do dum di dum...)
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"
Love God, love they neighbour. There's no division between these; the second is not the lesser, it's supported by the greatness of the first.
Supported, and amplified.
It's not about Halellujah! and God wants you well!
In this time of enforced isolation, and at all other times besides, it's about seeing Christ when you look at that grumpy old guy down the street, or that really hot chick who lives next door (that would be Barbara).
It's about keeping up on emails and Facebook, using FaceTime to chat, waving at the people you see in person and shouting Hello!
It's about having a meal delivered to someone who's sick, and organizing a meal service for a sick family.
It's about cutting the grass and trimming the hedge for someone who just can't do it now, so they don't feel like life is falling down in every way.
It's about making sure that grumpy old guy, even though he's an athiest (GASP!) sees that someone cares, that he's not alone.
You'll note that Jesus didn't say, Love thy Christian neighbour.
Love they neighbour, period.
That's what it's all about. That's the price of admission, and that's the ransom.
Keep your better angels bold,
don’t give the demons what they
seek;
protect the very young and old,
and give your food unto the weak.
Shelter those who have not hope
in your prayers, if not your home,
and help your widowed neighbor cope,
for cares should not be borne alone.
Be the lantern-glow at midnight,
be the brave that shuts out fear,
be the one who ends the fight
and then dries the foe’s salt-tears
for it is true, after all,
that together, we surely will not
fall.
Here's Missalette performing an uptempo version of They Will Know We Are Christians.
Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.
Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.
Marley, the canine waif from Afghanistan, whom WE helped save, has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.
Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.
good reminders for us all.
ReplyDeleteAnnette, thank you...and please pardon, again,, the late reply. My internet service has been more off than on for the past week.
DeleteAndrew, I wanted to let you know I prayed for you tonight.
ReplyDeleteMy dear Norma, thank you so much, and please, please pardon my delay in replying.
DeleteThanks for the reminder to help our neighbors at a time like this. We have some elderly ones that we could help out! I pray you continue to stay in good enough health to write! Jennifer, FMF
ReplyDeleteJenn, I'm so glad you found value here. Thatnk you so much for your prayers, and please excuse my tardy reply. Rural internet issues!
DeleteGreat words as usual, Andrew. Thanks for the thoughts.
ReplyDeleteDuane, thank you so much, and please excsue my delayed reply.
DeleteExcellent prose today.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan (and please excuse my late reply).
DeleteAs always Andrew your heart is towards others, whether friend or foe, 2 legs or 4. I think a crisis often reveals the depths of one's heart,rather than producing something new. I prayed for you early this morning. Happy to see you here today.
ReplyDeleteMary, I am so honoured by your ords, and blessed by your prayers!
DeleteI agree, this is an excellent opportunity to show something of God's love for everyone as we take the opportunities we can to love and serve our neighbours, whoever they may be.
ReplyDeleteWell-said, Lesley! Thank you,and please excuse my tardiness in responding.
Delete(((Andrew)))
ReplyDeleteI love the part about sheltering them in your prayers!
Annie in Texas
((((((Annie!))))))
DeleteI'm so glad you iked that...and thank you so much for being here!
Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteInnerdialects, thank you so much!
DeleteI've never thought about Jesus becoming a Christian. So good thanks
ReplyDeleteMore Fruit, I'm glad you found this interesting. Thanks for being here!
Delete"Jesus is Mine"
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/BeUII5l0gTI
Dear Andrew, I may have already sent you this song last year.... But it is so beautiful & encouraging! Praying for you, dear brother, & Barb too. It has been a joy to know you via your blog. You have encouraged so many & been such a blessing!
Love, Kathryn in SC
Kathryn, thank you so much for the song! It's lovely.
DeleteWe so appreciate your prayers, and the chance we've had to meet you here!
Love back!
Beautiful poem and message, Andrew! And I especially love your insight about it being "love your neighbor" not your "Christian neighbor!" So true and so convicting! Thanks for this reminder and important challenge for such a time as this!
ReplyDeleteBeth, thank you. I'm really honoured by your words, and grateful for your presence and prayers.
DeleteThanks for helping me (re)focus at the beginning of this week. I want each of these isolation weeks (however many that may be) to be productive and a blessing. And to point others to Christ!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I have absolutely no doubt that even in these days of isolation, you will continue to be a blessing to all who know you!
DeleteAndrew, what a beautiful post. Even in this time of forced isolation we can still "be Jesus with skin on," to others, and maybe even especially to those prickly souls and those who don't yet know Him.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the practical suggestions of how to love well in this season of our history. I'm sending prayers and gentle hugs, friend.
Jeanne, thank you so much. It IS a hard season, but I do believe that we are made, in Christ, for the hard.
DeleteAnd I'm so grateful for the prayers and hugs!
A super reminder, Andrew, that there are a multitude of ways to reach out, no matter where we find ourselves in this crisis.
ReplyDeleteMay we have eyes to see, hearts that are compassionate and kind ...
Linda, thank you...and AMEN!
DeleteYou are spot on brother with your words. We can't waste these crisis that come into our lives by acting like the world does, we need to step it up. Actually, maybe living in crisis mode daily would help us be reminder who we are in Christ and how He has commanded us to live.
ReplyDeleteWise Hearted, I LOVE the way you put this..."we can't waste this crisis..."
DeleteThat is so true! Thank you so much for being here!
A great reminder; and... I love the poem. Simple yet true... Blessings,
ReplyDeleteDel
Del, thank you, and I'm so glad you liked the poem!
DeleteBlessings back!
Stephanie, thank you so much! Share away!
ReplyDelete