Thailand was one of the most hospitable places I have ever been. Time and time again, we were given the best that people had to offer. Every house we went to, we were served and cared for. Every house we went to, it seemed like we were treated so much better than we deserved. It often felt like we hadn’t done anything but show up, and we were loved so sacrificially. Which kind of seems like a trend this year. And isn’t that the way it should be? Isn’t that the beauty of the gospel?
We are sinful, undeserving creatures. Full of selfishness and hatred. But God sent Jesus on the cross as the ultimate sign of sacrificial love.
Thailand made me think. I don’t do things if they inconvenience me. I don’t do things unless I want to. And that’s wrong. That is sinful. When was the last time I loved sacrificially? It’s more than doing something because you know it’s the right thing to do out of obligation. All you married folk probably know a lot more about this than I do, but even you have to run into this. Now I’m obviously not married, but I imagine sometimes you have to do things that the other person wants to do. You watch that game or cook that meal because it makes the other person feel joy, feel loved, and that in turn makes you feel joy. And I have learned that this isn’t just limited to marriage. It’s something that should be present in all relationships, with all people. Sometimes it means staying up late to pick nits out of your teammates hair, or walking with them to go get a smoothie even though you’re already in your jammies.
In Thailand, I got to experience God’s heart. I got to experience sacrificial love out of the overflow. Not because it’s the right thing to do, but because they have Jesus’ heart.
I know that this is a bit of a ramble, but that’s because it’s not complete. I haven’t learned this fully, and chances are, I never will, but here’s to the beauty of the process.
