Follow the Perfect Example
I am grateful for Your long-suffering love, Father. Where would I be without You? I would surely be lost. Though I so often am unsteady, You are my rock. May I stand beside You each day and strive to be like Your Son in everything I say and do. Amen.
John 1:14 (<<click here to read the passage)
I was a part of a group of boys who ended up in the principal’s office when I was in the 5th grade, for running in the hall. Parents were called as we suffered the consequences for disregarding the rules of safety.
If we exceed the speed limit and a police officer pulls us over, we often suffer for our actions by receiving a ticket.
Over the course of our lives, if we overindulge and avoid exercise, it is a distinct possibility that our bodies will suffer from all kinds of potential reactions as a result of our misdeeds and neglect.
I could go on and on for we all have suffered in some way for things we have said or done that were out of line. And truly we deserved whatever punishment we received.
But here’s the question…have you ever suffered for doing good?
The second portion of the note from my study Bible* regarding the first few words of verse 14. (And the Word (Christ) became flesh… AMP; So the Word became human… NLT) states that by the Word becoming flesh, becoming human, Christ became the perfect example as a model of what we are to become, he shows us how to live and gives us the power to live that way (1 Peter 2:21).
Peter’s words from the noted reference read as follows:
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21 NLT
Hmmm…I would say that for most of us, that is a lot easier said than done. I know I’m pushing the obvious, but I can say that I would stand for what is right and that I would do the right thing but when push came to shove…would I?
We all would like to think we would…but would we?
In school, a student who just doesn’t fit in with the crowd is once more being ostracized. We want to sit with our friends but that still small Voice in our heart of hearts suggests we sit with the rejected student. Do we just ignore the Voice…or will we sit with someone who needs a friend?
On my bus, on occasion, I hear students using words such as “gay” and “retarded” in very demeaning ways. Do I pretend I don’t hear them, or do I call them out?
It’s easy to sit back and act as if everything is hunky-dory but if it’s not…what do we do?
Of course, these examples are pretty mild. But what would we do if someone went off on a profanity-laced tirade about how there is no God and that people who think that way just need to get a life? Would we stay tight-lipped, just wanting to avoid any confrontation? Do we lay into them, yelling that they are the one who needs to get a life? Or do we patiently…lovingly…share why we disagree and see where the Lord leads the conversation?
The Word – Christ – is the perfect example for us and models what we can become by showing how to live. And – here’s an important part we cannot miss – He not only shows us how to live but gives us the power to live that way. He empowers us to stand strong but only if we stand in Him.
Lord Jesus, help us to closely follow Your example and to suffer for doing good if that’s what it takes as we follow in Your steps. Amen.
Feb 16th, 2021, Tues, 7:49 pm
The Perfect Teacher
Our snowy adventure continues! With several inches still on the ground from the last heavy snowfall a couple of weeks ago, we are due to get more tonight, possibly eight or more! Father, my prayers go out to all those who must be out – those who are driving plows, law enforcement, health care professionals, to name a few – and for those who foolish enough to not take conditions seriously. Amen.
John 1:14 (<<click here to read the passage)
I hold a very high regard for teachers and I’m sure in that I have lived with one for almost 35 years does influence my opinion to some degree! Karen is a wonderful 1st Grade teacher and has impacted literally 1,000s of lives and continues to do so.
I can recall a few of my teachers from so very long ago. I remember my 1st Grade teacher from Quick Elementary in West Virginia. Her name was Miss Fleshman. Mr. Goodwin was my 6th Grade Social Studies teacher in Mason, Ohio. I was in his class in 1976 and remember drawing a political cartoon of Anwar Sadat – then president of Egypt – regarding his failed attempt at peace with Israel. My high school band teacher was Miss Marshall. At the time, our high school didn’t have a choir and she consented to direct a Christian musical made up of several students in our area. The next year, Tucker County High School had a choir!
Each of these individuals impacted my life. And of course, there were many more, some I remember…others are a little fuzzier in my memory. None were by any means perfect, but each one of them we gifted and gave of themselves to further me along in my educational journey. And I am the better for it.
As I read through the notes of my study Bible* I was intrigued by what it had to say about the first few words of verse 14.
And the Word (Christ) became flesh… AMP
So the Word became human… NLT
The initial part of the study note stated that by the Word becoming flesh, becoming human, Christ became the perfect teacher – in Jesus’ life we see how God thinks and therefore how we should think…
It then gave Philippians 2:5-11 as a reference. The New Living Translation is far less wordy but, oh my, I just had to share the Amplified Bible version of it. (This is one of those passages that you must read slowly to catch it all!)
Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (sovereign God), to the glory of God the Father.
Wow! Jesus was a teacher who led by example…an example that we are to follow. As we are to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27) so we should follow His example with the same exuberance! We are truly blessed to have such a great teacher leading the way before us!
Feb 15th, 2021, Mon, 7:40 pm
Be Ready! It’s Coming!
Father, thank You for Your presence throughout the day, from our time of worship together to our day spent together as a family. May tonight be a night of restful sleep for us all and may tomorrow be full of promise as we seek to follow Your will and guidance. Amen.
********
There are times when we are caught unawares at the arrival of snow or ice where we live. Fog can be an unexpected issue, as well. Our leadership, i.e., our school superintendent and our transportation director, are responsible for making the determination if roads are safe enough for buses and student drivers to get to school. They take these duties very seriously. They are out on the road themselves to make the best judgment call on road conditions hours before bus drivers and students would be out and about.
Many times, it is a last-minute decision on whether to have a delay to the start of school or to cancel school altogether.
Recently, the storm didn’t sneak up on us, but we knew what was coming. Forecasters were warning of heavy accumulations of snow, and many schools actually canceled the night before school, giving parents and school workers ample to prepare for childcare and whatnot. Wisely, we were part of that group.
We are off for President’s Day tomorrow, but we have a pretty big snowstorm forecasted for our region. We may get 8-10 inches of snow, with some areas getting upward to 12 inches of snow! Time will tell. There’s a very good chance that we will not have school on Tuesday. But again, time will tell.
The last couple of days, we ran a few errands picking up some things for ourselves and Karen’s parents just to make sure we are prepared for whatever may come. Many places we stopped were packed with urgent shoppers. There were many bare shelves. We weren’t the only ones getting ready!
Over two thousand years ago, Jesus made a very reliable forecast. As recorded in Matthew 24:44, Jesus proclaimed, “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” NLT
We know that He’s coming but…are we ready? He said we must be ready all the time…We prepare for a possible large quantity of snow – we have bread, milk, and toilet paper ready! …but are we ready for the guaranteed arrival of Jesus?
May we take seriously the admonition of the Apostle Peter as found in his letter to fellow believers.
The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.] Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. 1 Peter 4:7-8 AMP
Be ready! It’s coming! Specifically, He is coming!
Feb 14th, 2021, Sun, 8:31 pm
A Real Home
Father, I continue to be amazed at how you put up with us. We can be downright nasty! But Your forgiveness continues to be extended from Your unfathomable reservoir of love. We don’t deserve a lick of it but it is given freely and abundantly!
John 1:12-13 (<<click here to read the passage)
I was poking around looking for an adoption success story and came across one on the Heart Gallery of America website. Their motto is “All Children Deserve a Family”. The article was entitled, A Real Home for Christmas. (<<click here to read the entire story)
Master Moore is the child in the story, and he went into foster care at four years of age, along with 2 brothers and several cousins who were found to be in neglectful care. His brothers were adopted early on but not Master. Instead, he found himself shuffled around the New Jersey foster care program for the next 10 years.
Then in early 2005 someone asked him to participate in The Heart Gallery of New Jersey, a traveling photographic exhibit of adoptable children in the state’s care. Master was told someone might see his photograph, read his story and want to adopt him. He shrugged. “Sure, why not?” he said. Master had heard people say miracles happen, but he had never seen one himself. Still, he decided to tell his story — if not for himself, then for all of the kids just like him. He felt regardless of whether he found a family it was important for people to know that even teenagers want and deserve families.
When he was featured in the first Heart Gallery exhibition in 2005, he was in his 12th placement. Foster care had not been overly kind to him. His foster mother at the time was unpredictable, sometimes nice, sometimes not… During the two years he lived there, she never kissed him goodnight. “As you can see, what’s missing in my life is a real home,” he said at the time.
But his situation was about to change. Master’s story had caught the eye of a kindly Newark man who coincidentally shared the same last name.
In a relatively short time, Michael Moore, raised in foster care himself, and his wife Tracy adopted Master as their own.
The first line of the article sums it up pretty well. Master Moore held his pen over the paper and paused. His mom had asked him to write a Christmas list. Ten things. No guarantees he would get everything he wanted. But as the boy pondered presents like a digital camera or an electronic keyboard, he realized nothing would ever compare to the gift he already had. A real home.
The entire story is well worth the time it takes to read.
We, too, every one of us, are orphans…at least spiritually speaking. Verse 12 begins with John saying concerning the Light…the Word…Christ,
But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name – who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth – they are born of God – spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified]. John 1:12-13 AMP
If we will but receive and welcome Him, we, too, can find our “real home” with all the authority and privilege that come with our adoption by Him. In doing so we receive a divine and supernatural birth. We are spiritually transformed, renewed, and sanctified, that is, we are set apart for His use in His love. For what more could we ask? For nothing could ever compare to the gift we already have!
Feb 11th, 2021, Thurs, 5:45 pm
Recognize
My mind and body are weary, Father, but I know even in that state You can use me. You can speak to me. May I hear Your voice strong and clear. Amen.
John 1:10-11 (<<click here to read the passage)
Around the holidays we happened to stop by the Kohl’s at which I worked to pick up a few things. I hadn’t worked there for two years but from at least a hundred yards one of the managers recognized me even with my mask on! Even though she was not the manager directly over me, we interacted on a pretty regular basis. I may have seen her once or twice over that span of two years since my employment ended, and yet she still could distinguish who I was from a distance with my face partially obscured!
God created everything through him [that is Christ – the Word], and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created…John 1:3-4a NLT
Christ knows every single thing about us…down to the molecular level. He even knows things about us that we don’t fully understand about ourselves. He created us, so why shouldn’t He?
Another example, my son Massey knows the ins and outs of the subject in which he completed his doctorate. He is currently wrapping up his third, and final, paper. He has had some conversations with his two advisors recently, and I tell you he can hold his own with them. For the last several years he has absorbed in great depth and detail the workings of the information he has handled day in, day out over that time period. He knows it!
Christ knows us so well because He was a part of all that brought us into being. It’s nearly impossible to fathom but He doesn’t just know about me…and you…but He knows each and every person who has ever existed just as well! He knows us!
…but unfortunately, many do not know Him. Though He created us all, we don’t even recognize Him. (verse 10)
It’s astonishing that even his own people – the Jewish nation – didn’t recognize him. In fact, they rejected him! His people failed in their mission. They were hand-chosen by God to prepare the rest of the world for the Messiah*– that is Jesus. The Old Testament is filled to overflowing with verse upon verse that pointed to His coming, and what that would look like in great detail!
But…they didn’t recognize him… they rejected him…
And before we start pointing fingers, they are in good company…with us!
We, too, are a chosen people. We, too, are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NLT
And what have we truly done? Many have worked diligently to show others the goodness of God but to our own embarrassment many more…have not.
Lord Jesus, enable us to reflect Your light to a dark and lost world. Help to recognize You for who You are. May we embrace You and not reject You. Give us a burning desire to love you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength! And to love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen!
*Life Application Bible New Living Translation
Feb 10th, 2021, Wed, 6:58 pm