It really is this simple.
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
Jesus
Rusty stop looking at your own needs and focus on the needs
of others.
Something that’s very hard for me, a first-born child and a
first-born grandson, to do. From day one, it was all about me – and I got
albums full of baby pictures to prove it! I always had what I wanted, when I
wanted it. So, as you can imagine I was never good at putting other people’s
needs first. In fact, I’m pretty sure I was quite shocked when I realized there
were other people in this world besides me. And I can promise you, it took me a
lot longer to see that they were real, living people – and not just “objects” in my world.
I dare say I’m not the only one out there who has walked
this walk. I think we can all agree that kids need to be TAUGHT to be selfless.
It’s not really a quality we carry with us bursting forth from the womb. To me,
self-focus is our universal sickness.
So, God seeing that THAT was our main issue decided to send
His Son into our own backyard to show us how to play nice with each other. Jesus
made it real easy for us, He said don’t worry about all these rules and
commandments, just love God and love each other – that’s it! And the best part
is He just didn’t say it – He lived it! Christ lived AND died putting other
people first. Jesus had an amazing ability to see people – as PEOPLE, and he
treated them as such.
One of the best descriptions of Christ’s love outside of the
Gospels is in Philippians:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not
only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
time I lived in complete opposition to this scripture. I wasn’t even trying to
look at something like this. To me, this was foolishness. You see, people were
“objects” and I was a master at manipulating the “objects” around me to serve
MY purposes. And the sad thing is I really had little awareness I was doing
this – most of us don’t. However, something happens to us when we finally
understand the magnitude of Christ’s love for us. I can’t explain it – it’s
definitely a God thing. It finally just sinks in – His sacrifice, His love, His
passion, His selflessness – all for YOU…
see ourselves for what we are – extremely selfish, self-seeking,
self-gratifying folks. And the weird thing is, it’s not condemnation we feel,
it’s conviction. That’s when we hit our knees with a repentant heart.
Great story right? Usually this is were man comes in and
makes it complicated, not on purpose, but it happens. Because after we come to Christ, we
go to church. And that traditionally has been the place were good-hearted people
start telling us or “showing” us how to live. We are given “rules” and “guidelines”
to follow in order to “follow” Jesus. All of a sudden that simple call to LOVE
– doesn’t seem so simple anymore. Now that you are a Christian it seems you got
to have the “right” stance on issues and vote along the “right” party lines.
Next thing you know these “issues” you stand on have drawn lines between you
and the very people God has called you to love. Jesus said, “love your
neighbor,” which is everyone. But now you find yourself in an exclusive club
with people inside it that can barely love each other.
Then, after time, the focus on others gives way to a
performance-based religion that has got us all caught up in “ourselves” – again!
A sick trap.
One I have to actively fight to stay out of.
Alright so let me tie this thing up – it’s simple remember.
We like thinking about ourselves all the time, God said, hold up, check out my
Son, He’ll show you how it’s done. Jesus walks the talk and says on His way out
– love others and it’ll be all good. The Spirit touches us, we finally WAKE UP
and get IT! But then unfortunately, we start getting religion.
This is why I love the World Race. God is using this program
to get us back to the basics. You see, we travel the world, minister to the
poor and live in community with our teammates. We are around each other 24/7
for 11 months! It’s absolutely the most challenging thing about the race, but
it’s also the best thing. You really do get a chance to live out John 15:12 – remember,
love each other. It’s like I always told my team last year, “you gotta love
each other first before you can go out and love those in the nations.”
I believe in the race, because it gets us back to what Jesus
is all about – LOVE. We don’t focus on issues, or do’s and don’ts. We just try
to model His love by putting the other person’s needs ahead of our own.
Thank God, it really is that simple.
race and you have seen the change in that person’s life. Also, I realize a lot
of racers’ parents read my blog as well, and ya’ll saw first-hand what God did
in your child’s life during their time in the field. I’m asking ya’ll to invest
in this program. If you would like to give to the World Race general fund, please
click here.
And/Or
If you would like to support me in my full-time service to
the World Race, please click here.
