I am starting a devotional this morning called Just Like Jesus. The book is written by Max Lucado. I wanted to share something that I read this morning that I thought might be relevant to your week.
God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus. God loves you just the way you are. If you think his love for you would be stronger if your faith were, you are wrong. If you think his love would be deeper if your thoughts were, wrong again. Don't confuse God's love with people love. The love of people often increases with performance and decreases with mistakes. Not so with God's love. He loves you right where you are.~Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus
That people love part is kind of a hard pill to swallow. But it is dead on. We show love for people when they do things right...and we tend to not show it when they make a mistake. Thank goodness God's love isn't like that. As I read this passage, I thought about how I treat my boys when they make a mistake. Ugh. Sometimes I forget to be Christ-minded and I do not behave in a way that would one, make the Big Guy proud, or two, show his love through me to my kids. Darn it. The verse that went along with this devotion is Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
Hmmmm. So when Brett rolls his eyes at me this morning because I ask him to wear a coat, I am to have a Christ like mind. And when Tanner looks me straight in the eye and does the EXACT OPPOSITE of what I tell him, I am to have Christ like thoughts. Okay. Because when I act in a way that does not glorify God, he does not turn his back on me. He doesn't love me less when I stumble, and more when I walk straight. He loves me no matter what. So my challenge to us is this...treat others today as God treats us. Be patient. Be kind. Be available. Be understanding. Be considerate. Be humble. Be loving. Be forgiving. I think you'll be amazed by the way YOU feel if you allow yourself to be more like him. I know I will. Have a great Monday~
Amy
2 comments:
Alright, I received the link to this blog from Tanya Whitney, who my husband used to work with. I can tell already I'm going to be addicted to it. Thank you --- because I truly need this. It is amazing how I don't know you at all, but our lives seem very similar. I have 4 boys (yeah, different, not 3) but mine are ages 10, 8, 3, and 17 months. Although your husband is a teacher/coach, I myself am a teacher and coached basketball for 10 years. The CRAZY life sounds similar, and as our boys get older, the sports make life more and more busy. Thank you for helping me get my focus on what is most important in life - Christ. I've started doing an online Daily Devotion, but now will add this to my daily routine also. May God Bless You for the way you are reaching out to help others:)
You are so very welcome! I feel so blessed to have "met" you already. I know that God put me on this task for several reasons, but to know that the words he puts on my heart have touched you so much is Amazing. I am blessed to have you reading and following and I hope that it changes you the way that it has changed me. Blessings!
Amy
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