Category Archives: Life of Jesus

Me, Myself, and I

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The Christian life is all about being other-oriented. Jesus put it this way: we’re to love others as much as we love ourselves.

That’s a tough one, simply because we come into the world all set to put ourselves first. If we aren’t sure of that, all we have to do is look at young children. Their behavior shouts, “Me first!”

Take two-year-old Emerald, for example.

EmeraldOnce in a while she’ll crawl up on my couch just to gaze at herself in the mirror behind it, the only mirror she can reach. She’ll talk to her reflection, make faces, tip her head back and forth, and jump up and down, all while intently watching her mirror image. And she smiles long smiles at herself as if to say, “You, Emerald, are my very favorite!”

This natural egocentricity is something we try hard to diminish in our children as we raise them. As soon as they can understand, we insist they say please and thank you, even when they aren’t feeling it, just to force them to focus on someone else. As we continue to train them, resistance to “me last” is common.

Truth be told, though, all of us have one foot in that camp. To put others ahead of ourselves we have to make a conscious decision, since even in adulthood it doesn’t come naturally.

Jesus was a faithful example of putting the needs of others ahead of his own. Following him through the Gospels, we see he was often hungry, tired, burned out from ministry, and stretched thin by nonstop commitments. He was so busy doing for others that he rarely did anything for himself.

Yet he never lost sight of his overarching purpose: to bring salvation to people like us. Without him and his willingness to put us ahead of himself, we would have been left to save ourselves, a setup for disaster. We could talk to our mirrors around the clock and never come up with a way to cleanse ourselves from sin.

If Jesus had refused to put others ahead of himself, we would be in a fix for which there was no repair. Instead he set self-interest aside and focused on us, enduring the cross.

Morning mirrorAs I look into a mirror at the beginning of each day, maybe I should talk to my reflection and say, “Subdue your me-first attitude today, just like Jesus did for you. And then do something for someone else as a thank you gift to him.”

“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5)

A Powerful Punch

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This week I’ve been re-immersed in the world of the young, visiting daughter Linnea’s family in Florida. That includes husband Adam and 4 young ‘uns: Skylar (6), Micah (5), Autumn (3), and Isaac (1).

Long-distance grandparenting has considerable limitations, and when I’m invited to join them day-to-day for a while, getting caught up with each one is a joyful process. Though this family traveled to see me in Michigan multiple times in 2014, it’s been a whole year since I’ve been to their home.

4 Florida grands

My 4 Florida grands are changing faster than I can keep up with. Take their home schooling, for example. This morning I audited their mommy’s history lesson at the dining table and learned all kinds of new things about World War II, Hitler, Stalin, the United Nations, the Cold War, Gandhi, India’s independence, the establishing of the Jewish State, Communism, Mao, and China. And that was all before lunch.

A thirst for knowledge is a wonderful thing, and watching children learn is a delight. But the day’s highlight for me came after school was all over. Actually, it was during a spat between Skylar and Micah. They were bickering about nothing in particular, shouting over each other, when suddenly Skylar said, “Micah! Harsh words make tempers flare!”

Her statement was right out of the Bible,* and I was pleased to hear her recite a previously-memorized verse. More than that, though, was the thrill of knowing she could apply it to everyday life. Linnea, preparing dinner nearby, added the first half of the same verse: “Yes, and a ‘gentle answer turns away wrath’.” Immediately their squabble ended, much like a balloon that’s been poked by a pin.

It reminded me of a scriptural comment about the effect of Jesus’ words on his listeners. “People were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.”  (Luke 4:32) Though the Bible tells us he was an ordinary-looking man,** his hearers were amazed that his words packed such a powerful punch.

The Lord’s words still have that same punch, and I believe I saw it at work during Skylar and Micah’s argument. Though children may not be aware of it, when they quote the Bible to each other sincerely, they’re bringing supernatural power to bear on whatever’s going on at the time.

CooperatingNot that every childhood argument will immediately stop when a verse is spoken, but it very well might be. God honors his Word and says it’s influential when verbalized.*** And when a child has been taught to respect and honor what he says, surely the impact is all the greater.

“Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess!”  (Luke 4:36)

* Proverbs 15:1        **Isaiah 53:1-2         *** Romans 10:16-17 &  Revelation 1:3

A Wintry Mix

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Today outside my windows is something weathermen call a “wintry mix.” This forecast includes a potpourri of snow, rain, sleet, ice, and hazardous driving conditions. Welcome to late-winter in the Midwest.

We’ve all heard the description of March as “in like a lion and out like a lamb,” and the weather can’t get much more beastly than it is today.

IMG_5185But on my front door is a wooden plaque that says, “Winter Welcome.” I won it in a Christmas grab bag 16 years ago and like to display it until winter finds its way out of the neighborhood. I’m not sure if the plaque is meant to welcome wintertime visitors or to welcome winter itself, but if it’s the latter, I’m going to take it down. Winter and its “wintry mix” has worn out its welcome.

Often we feel this same way about life’s struggles, especially the ones that are long-lasting and particularly harsh. It’s easy to become immersed in the misery of our troubles, and just when we think things can’t get any worse, they do. Like the deep snow outside my windows is getting slammed with an ice-coating today, a season of suffering makes us ask, “What next? Will this season never end?”

Traveling through life’s “winters” reminds me of C. S. Lewis’ books about Narnia, a magical land “where it’s always winter but never Christmas.” In other words, all the negatives of winter dominated Narnia without even the Christmas season to bring light and warmth.

Against all odds, though, Narnia’s 100-year winter did eventually melt into springtime, and it had everything to do with a lion named Aslan. In Lewis’ allegorical story, Aslan represented Jesus Christ, the only One who could rid Narnia of the evil White Witch and her desire to keep Narnia trapped in the debilitating deep freeze of winter.

AslanBut Aslan was “on the move,” and as he was, Narnia began to thaw. The warmth of spring came to the world and ruin came to the wintry White Witch.

As we slog through circumstances that feel like we’re trudging through hip-deep snow, we should remember that the Lord will, indeed, bring an end to our “wintry mix.” Along with a new season, he’ll bring relief and warmth. That’s because Jesus is on the move in our world much like Aslan was moving through Narnia. The big difference is that Aslan was a fantasy; Jesus is real.

Though our problems often come to us much like March comes “in like a lion,” according to God’s control of the calendar, they will “go out like a lamb.” And isn’t it interesting that two of the names of Jesus in Scripture are “The Lion of Judah” and “The Lamb of God.”

We go into our struggles with The Lion and move out of them with The Lamb.

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons….” (Daniel 2:21-22)