Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…(Col 3:12).  

Did you know this is what you were signing up for?  We all came to the Lord in different ways.  But I would venture to say that almost all of us (if not all) came because we saw our own need: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…[and] God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23).  Jesus said of Himself: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19).  This is the Good News!  

But the parable of the talents from Matthew 25 comes to mind…“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘˜Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.  I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘˜You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate,  why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ (Matt 25:24-27).  The Good News is a treasure that we need to share, not keep to ourselves.  We cannot gain such a treasure, only to bury it in our own hearts, and not participate in the growth of God’s Kingdom. But sharing the Good News is not just telling, it is doing.  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”  (John 13:34, 35).  It is doing, everyday.  It is not a sprint; it is a marathon.  It is requires training, endurance, perseverance and commitment.  We must turn from being a consumer, in the Kingdom, to being a contributor.  Did you know this is what you were signing up for? 

Did you take Lorraine’s challenge to show love to a difficult person this week?  How is it going?  I have struggled with mine.  My knee-jerk reactions are wrestling with my obedient heart.  The obedient heart is winning most of the time, but not all…but for me that is progress! 😉

JustaGirl…just like you!