Living as Christ Teaches

“What would our world be like if we actually lived as Christ teaches?” What a serious, probing question for the New Year—or any time! I know I need to think very deeply about this Lord, and make life-time resolves to live up to this ideal. But here are some things I listed as starters on this journey of living Christ’s teachings and the difference it would make to myself and others:

1. First, come to Jesus in repentance, faith, belief and acceptance. Then be baptized into the new life and new walk with Him. These steps I did a long time ago, and they’re still good! They made all the difference in who I am and who I am becoming.

2. Love all people—family, church members, associates, strangers—everyone we encounter—and love unconditionally. What a big order! We enjoy loving those who are easy to love, who reciprocate our love. But to love everyone unconditionally?
That will require much prayer, acceptance, taking on the heart of Jesus. It’s a long journey to love everyone. Keep practicing love-outreach every day!

3. Forgive without reservation—not just those who forgive me, but everyone, even those who may hold a grudge against me or be unforgiving toward me! I honestly thought about whom I should forgive. This is no feather in my hat, but I could not think of anyone against whom I hold animosity. I’m asking God to show me if I’ve overlooked someone. But if I expect God’s forgiveness of me, I must, likewise, forgive others. Forgiveness is a two-way street: God forgives me; I forgive others.

4. Care for the sick. Unlike Jesus, who had the power to heal the sick and did so, I cannot heal those who are sick. But I can bind up their wounds, show them compassion, encouragement and love. I can be genuinely concerned about their state of health, listen to them, pray for and encourage them. For fourteen years now I’ve practiced these principles of healing on my dear husband Grover. I am sincerely trying to minister to him and his Vinson 3rd floor neighbors as I go to visit almost daily. I include not only the sick veterans but the aides, LPNs, nurses, doctors, cleaning staff, dining hall staff, administrators and office workers I see. We greet each other and I seek to show that the Lord loves them and cares about them.

5. Feeding the hungry. There are so many hungry! I can cooperate in feeding the hungry by giving offerings of money to reputable hunger organizations and joining my church in providing food for the needy. And then the thought comes to me: “But what about feeding the spiritually hungry?” How can I do this? Through love and discernment, I can share and practice the admonition given in I Peter 3:15: “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” And I can exercise my gift of teaching.

6. Welcoming the strangers. Oh! in this day when we are afraid to open the door of our house to someone we don’t know? And I am to welcome strangers? In this day when illegal aliens crowd our country, live off our tax money, fill hospitals demanding free care? Welcome strangers? Lord, is some caution not needed here?

The Lord seems to answer me by saying that we have discernment in welcoming strangers. Maybe “strangers” or visitors come to our church seeking spiritual feeding. Can I genuinely welcome them? Seek to see what I can do to make them feel a part of our fellowship? Maybe a new family moves into our neighborhood. Can I show neighborliness kindness, help them to feel welcome? Maybe I will get an end-of-year reward as I did from Barbara, my new next-door neighbor, in her Christmas greeting: “I am so thankful to have you as a good neighbor.” And all I did was extend a welcome hand to her, offer to help, and when her mother died, I let her know I was bearing her loss and praying for her family.

Then we meet strangers almost every day in the marketplace. Be aware of the Lord’s prodding to allow the His love to flow from you to them. Remember, there are times when we ourselves have been strangers. That status was changed when people welcomed and receive me into their fellowship. Love and welcome strangers!

7. Witness of Christ’s love to others. This point should not be seventh on my list but should permeate all the above. But unless I am, foremost, a follower of Christ, unless I genuinely love people, unless I live and practice forgiveness, unless I care for others (the sick, the hungry, the stranger) my testimony will not be effective.

What, indeed, would our world be like if I ACTUALLY LIVED AS CHRIST TAUGHT (AND TEACHES—FOR I LEARN FROM HIM EVERY DAY)?

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, January 3, 2010