Sometimes I feel like the Lord literally comes up to me, looks me in the eyes, and thumps me on the head.
This is one of those times.
This past week I’ve seen a similar pattern in things that others have given me feedback on. The connecting point is selfishness. Let’s go back to where it all starts; a young child hasn’t learned the basics of selflessness. They have a toy that their friend (or was) wants to play with. Do they share it? Most don’t. They hold on to it tightly; maybe even saying “MINE”. It’s a gift that they don’t want to give up. This has been me, not intentionally, but it’s been going on for a few months. I have things that I could be sharing with my team, but because I was hurt once I withheld them. I said “nope I can’t share this because it will blow up in my face.” It took someone else on my squad doing what I should have done all along. She said the hard truth. I wouldn’t be writing this if someone hadn’t chosen to do what Jesus would do. He calls us to call each other higher and sometimes reconciliation needs to happen in order for that to be done in love.
I see the Bible as a beautiful story of God’s reconciliation with man. And in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 he gives us the ministry of reconciliation:
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to usthe message of reconciliation.”
This was part of a verse the Lord gave me when I was baptized in Costa Rica. It had so many meanings and connections for me. It was my commitment to the Lord to go out and share the message of reconciliation with the world.
Bare with me.
This is where the Lord thumped me on the head. He highlighted this verse through yet another beautiful soul willing to call me higher. But this time it was a reminder that he loved us so much that he sent his own son to be brutally beaten, persecuted, and hung on a cross to die for Me. For you. So how selfish am I to say that I can glide on through and not choose to invest in those around me? Just like a baby I was holding on to things. Not sharing the gifts that the Lord has given me and the perspective I carry.
My hope is that, in my life, I will love every single person even half as much as the Lord loves me. I can start by sharing what He gave me!
