Next I ran to my family doctor as I was feeling stressed and confused and instead of treating me, my doctor started giving me a lecture on economics. Feeling disillusioned I went to my college and upon entering the lecture theatre I saw a long line queuing up in front of my lecturer's desk. My jaws dropped upon seeing my lecturer checking each person with a stethoscope and treating their symptoms. "Everyone and everything has gone insane," I screamed. No one and nothing seemed to be doing what they or it was meant to do!
Does the scenario seem familiar to you? Is it not the same with us my dear brother and sister? Don't we act the same way too? As human beings we are in charge of the vegetation and creatures of the world. Are we doing our part to protect our environment? As Christians we are instructed by Christ to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us and to go the extra mile for others. Are we doing what Christ asked us to do?
Instead of praying for those who persecute us, instead of blessing those who curse us and instead of doing good to those who hate us, we go about harbouring bitter thoughts about them and group together to talk negatively about what they did. Thus we vent our frustrations but are we doing what we were called to do? Don't we behave like the washer which cooked the clothes? Why do we complain and gripe so much? Can we turn the night to day or a strand of white hair to black or turn the negative situation around by doing all that? No my friends, not at all. In fact things would only get worse and people would grow apart by our actions, speech and behaviour. We will be championing divisions instead of unity.
Let us reflect for a moment... With us around, are people at ease or are they uptight and uneasy? With us around do they feel peaceful? With us being there in their presence for sometime are they motivated to change for the better or for worse? Yes they may have been in the wrong. Yes they may have done grievous things to hurt us or our community. Yes they may be much older than us or much younger than us but that does not give us the prerogative to act negatively or vehemently; that does not give us the right to accuse them and pass unfair judgement against them. Whoever we may be, we have to obey authority and be submissive to those God has placed above us. They are answerable to God for guiding us.
In the presence of sunlight, wet clothes dry up. In the presence of radiation light, bad cells die. In the same way in our presence, all those who are around us must change and become more like Christ...that is if we have the full measure of Christ dwelling within us.
If we have Christ dwelling fully in us we will be firm yet loving. We will correct others with love and compassion. We will reprimand when the need arises but after that we will in no way shun them nor cause them to feel little or lower than us but will embrace them with the unconditional love of Christ and we will pray ceaselessly for them. Even in praying, many pray that their will must be done instead of God's will. That is the wrong way of praying. We need to seek God's heart and know that just as He speaks to us and through us, God can speak to them and through them and therefore we need to also humble ourselves before God and others. A high and mighty attitude is the first step towards a great 'Humpty Dumpty' fall. Many marriages, families and organisations have been sadly divided due to this 'Higher than Thou' attitude.
There is no age limit to do what is asked of us by Christ. "Anyone who has not sinned throw the first stone," said Jesus...But now I tell you, "Anyone who has the full measure of Christ in you, forgive first, love unconditionally first and pray for those who rebel, for those who curse you and persecute you, first!"
In John 13:35 Jesus says, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have (genuine, unconditional) love for one another."
Here are 7 important questions we need to ask ourselves:-
1. Am I doing what I was created to do?
2. (If you are a Christian) As a Christian am I fulfilling the 'Great Commission' of Christ?
(If you aren't a Christian) As a human being am I working towards building a close relationship with God my Creator?
3. Am I a blessing to those around me?
4. Am I inspiring others to be what they were created to be?
5. Am I touching lives and moulding positive character traits in others?
6. Am I working towards leaving a legacy behind for others to emulate?
7. Is my life pleasing to God?
Let us make the first move to pray, to forgive, to love and to embrace. The Holy Spirit will make the changes we expect to see in our family, in our children, in our spouse, in our leaders, in our subordinates and in our organisation... Let me now go and check on my washer and my microwave oven...ha ha...
Mary Augustine
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