Mimic The Master; Jesus & His actions
[Aside; Before I mount the pulpit *ahem* I would like to make it clear that these are my own (honestly flawed) reflections on the preaching at church, Worship Tabernacle in Belsize Park. I have decided to share them on this blog because…er, it’s my blog and I can do what I want to. (Well, short of killing an endangered species of Brazilian toads and smearing the blog with pictures of the bleeding Neckless…if the Blogspot.com users handbook is to be believed).
This is not a bible-thumping message of the “…Sinners, perish in the wilderness of the fiery beast…” variety. BUT if you don’t already believe Jesus is your friend and only real help in these trying times you should probably consider taking a leaf from your Facebook stalker and add Him…yes, you may poke Him several times a day and clog his messages, just to feel close to Him. He loves that stuff. If not…well, the rest of the post will be read with one of your daintily hairless but precisely measured and arched pseudo-eyebrows lifted and/or full of random mutterings and curses from you. Do yourself a favour.
Alors, allons y.
In church this December, we are learning about the mind of Christ (the reason for this season). What did this teacher/ brother/ deceiver/healer/friend/miracle worker/pretender/ arrogant so-and-so/saviour, have within Him that has kept billions bound through the ages? What was this mindset that made Him, son of God or great pretender, stand out through the ages? What can we learn from Him, Christian or not? Christians, how can we emulate the one who set us free, the one who redeemed us, this friend who listens?
This message is a continuation of last Sunday's(06.12) sermon. It was supposed to be posted on Sunday(12.12). Apologies.
The sole purpose of being Christian is to be like Christ. Not to get things. Not to live an adversity-free life or a poverty-prone one. But simply to be like Christ. The word Christian itself means to be Christ-like in nature. That’s our purpose on earth. Christmas is about the reality that Christ came into the world to duplicte himself in me. And you.
“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he…” according to Solomon the Sage in Proverbs 23:7. You are a process of your thoughts…that is why thinking like Christ is so important. Your thoughts shape your actions and words…in essence your thoughts determine your life. Your thoughts are an amalgamation of your exposures and influences. Doctor Luke in chapter 5 verse 16 of his book, tells us that Jesus often withdrew to out of the way places, to pray. This suggests that he had a constant, open, on-going relationship with God. In other words, he talked to Him a lot. He must have either enjoyed talking to Him or felt that each one of his prayers were precious and important to a Father & Friend that can and is willing to listen… or else what business do you have braving wilderness animals to find some quiet time to speak to yourself??!
The way to build your confidence, knowledge, skill as a person, as a Christian is to spend time around people with the relevant abilities. By constant communion with them you are inspired. That is what Jesus did with God, that’s what Paul did with the scriptures and that is what we need to do with Jesus. Spend time in God’s presence, He is the source of confidence, and wisdom, and hope, and peace, and mercy, and …(this could take a while) the more you spend time with Him, the more he rubs off on you and you begin to develop those qualities you like. Soon they become second nature to you. This one is tried and tested. *Nods aggressively*
Jesus was a calm person. We must realize that a restless heart leads to a reckless life. When you have peace in your soul, despite the surrounding circumstances, you will not be overwhelmed because you are in control. You can not be internally chaotic and expert to address the external chaos surrounding you, properly. You need to “Come to me and I will give you rest” Jesus says in Matt 11:28. Rest, not freedom from all adversity, but rest even in the midst of adversity. Peter suggests that you “…cast your cares upon the lord for he cares for you affectionately AND watches over you. “ (Peter 5:7). You matter, in the grand scheme of things your life is a NECESSARY part of the puzzle.
Even on the cross, with thick nails wedged between crossed feet, with shattered bones and pierced, torn flesh, Jesus was still about the Family business. Was it not on the same cross that one sinner would have missed out on heaven and eternal life by seconds if he had not held on to Jesus’ garment mentally, trusting in His power and in doing this, securing his salvation? Death and hell was cheated right in their faces, at the very end, Jesus snatched that sinner and would not let Him go. Right at deaths door…to see death’s face when cheated of so scrumptious a sinner when Jesus assured the thief that He would be with Him in paradise that evening. SO even in the midst of the worst of life’s storm, Jesus was still fully and calmy in charge. Talking to the frightened prisoner about to be crucified, giving him hope, showing compassion, and saving people by God’s love. Even in the midst of the most terrifying adversity. Right on the cross he was saving sinners and all what not like he was in a Bethlehem camp revival or Men’s league fellowship.
How did Jesus maintain such calm in the midst of the storm, move without urgency through life and achieve everything he did in his ministry?
1. He prioritized.
See the story of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25:1. The wise virgins refused to give out their oil to anyone that asked, understanding that the oil was given to them for a purpose. A purpose higher than the current urgency, the present request, the forced demand. So they said “NO! We can not, we will not, we shallll not be giving out none of this oil this here lantern, mmmkay??” *Finger snaps in ‘Z’ formation* Well they didn’t say that exactly but they definitely meant that. The 5 foolish virgins gave out their valuables to the wrong party and at crunch time, there was nothing to show for their sacrifice. Priotise your life. Put God first. Make time for God. Place value in yourself also. You are L’oreal-style, so very very worth it.
2. Jesus lived a life of faith. Not fear. 10% of life depends on what happens to you. 90% is dependent on your reaction to it. Life will suck at times. That is standard. But what do you do at those times when all you can feel is your fear? In the words of one poet, “I want to know if you can source your own life from its own presence…What sustains you from the inside when all else falls away?” One practical way to stay on the ball especially in this season, is to go into W.W.J.D mode. …*waits for all the snide laughter and smirks from the many possible meanings of that acronym to subside*. Think first, in any situation where you are conflicted, tempted, anxious, joyful; WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? While I’m not sure that this will guarantee success as I have just started practising it myself this week but …well it could save you from a lot of trouble…think, if only Yung Tiger had W.W.J.D’d it maybe he’d have still just been that one Asian-black celebrity that missed the Hott Bus.(Seriously, Tyson Beckford, Pharell, Kelis, Amerie, Kimora. And Mr Woods?)
As usual, I digress.
As Christians we have some defective attitudes that prevent us from thinking and acting like Christ.
Denial
Pretending the problem does not exist is not going to magically make it disappear. Face your problems head on and address it to the best of your ability.
Defeat
Playing the ‘Victim Role’ also known as the ‘Woe-Is-Me’. Or going by the lesser known name of ‘Dun Nobody Known Ma Suffrin’. There is never a situation where the words “….there is nothing I can do” applies. So long as you still have breath in your body and a rational thinking mind, there is always something you can do. Now is that something rolling on the floor from corner to corner like a recently revived Gerasene demoniac is really up to you.
Running
Don’t run from your problem or you will spend your life playing catch up. Face your problems squarely or they will keep cropping up.
As long as you live on this earth, you will face adversity. The wise ones amongst us make the most of adversity recognizing its character building propensity. Adversity will come, the only guarantee we have as Christians is that Jesus will not let us go through it alone. Truth, its at the worst times of my life that I have felt God’s presence the strongest, (whether I wanted it or not). Maybe because those were the times my human limitations were so obvious that I moved from slightly leaning on this power that is greater than me and my understanding to resting my all 65 kilograms of myself on Him.
According to God’s word*, the storm came against the house built on sand and that built on strong ground equally. What was the difference? At the end, there was only one house left standing. The house on the solid rock. Simply because it was founded on tougher material than the storm. Unshakeable rock, able to withstand storm after storm. After storm. Without breaking. That’s the kind of base we need to survive this volatile life.
What is your base?
*Matthew 7: 24-29
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