Something to think about...

The internet is a curious thing. Through a friend of a friend, I have been following this blog, about a family who has endured great tragedy (their oldest son being diagnosed with cancer, followed by a premature birth of twin boys, one of whom did not survive, to most recently their oldest, Ezra, passing from the cancer a little over a week ago). I'm probably one of the thousands of people who have been praying for this family without even knowing them. It is amazing how God can use this tool of the internet to knit His body together in prayer.

 

I've been catching up on some of Kyle's posts since Ezra's passing and while in awe at Kyle and his wife, Robyn's, maturity and trust in God while enduring this tragedy in their lives, I was extremely challenged by something Kyle wrote after Ezra's memorial service:

 

I have said this before, and will mention it again as it's heavy on my mind. I have spent over a decade heavily involved in the church, and I've seen how easy it is to lose our focus on living like Jesus did to a focus on programs and schedules. It's easy to take the injustices done against us by Christians and twist them into something done to us by Christ. It's easy to watch hypocritical hurting people like we all are judge others and in our own mind create Jesus with that same character. Some people call it being jaded.

In 14 months of struggle I have cemented in my mind the importance of living like Jesus did. I have been slammed to the floor with tears and questions time and again, and been awed by the generosity we've been surrounded by. I have stood back up constantly, and stayed standing the times I have by grace and love. I see the incredibly deep need for us to care for each other. For me to care for you, and you for me.

 

One of the biggest questions that I have been wondering to myself the last few months is, "Am I living like Jesus - is his character reflected in me, in the things I do, in how I care for people & interact with them?" I know this is a question I will need to ask myself everyday for the rest of my life, until I meet Jesus face to face.

 

Lord, keep me humble, able to be molded by Your hands into the person you want me to be. Give me a heart to love, and love big, without pretense, without condition. Help me to reflect Your character, in every aspect of my being.