A freezing winter wind was blowing across my porch where I was having breakfast. I decided to take my breakfast to the warmth of my living room. So I loaded up my hands and arms with the bowl of oatmeal, plate of scrambled eggs, and cup of coffee but as I stepped through the door — ohhh! — I spilled oatmeal all over my shoes and on the floor (I hope my wife does not read this)! It looked like someone had thrown up.
“What would Jesus do if he were me?” was the first thought that came to My mind. I set the remainder of my breakfast on the table in the dinningroom, got a towel, and went back to clean up the mess. As I got down on my hands and knees I prayed, “Lord Jesus, how I thank you for your mercy to me. You have cleaned up so many messes in my life. How blessed I am that you went to the cross for me. It’s a joy for me to clean up this mess I made so that Deb doesn’t have to.”
That’s a picture of life in the kingdom of the heavens.
The Most Important Question
Let me ask you the most important question of all: Are you seeking to live your daily life as an apprentice to Jesus in his kingdom? A good test is how you react to the situations that irritate most people. In a frustrating or unfair situation are you ruled by the peace of Christ? (Colossians 3:16). Do you naturally demonstrate love for your neighbor in a practical way?
A thousand times in past years I had spilled my oatmeal — or lost my wallet, or taken a wrong turn and gotten lost, or had someone cut in front of me, or been offended by someone — and I always reacted with frustration and a lack of regard for the people around me at the time. I never took it in stride with a smile and a readiness do what was best for others. In my past I probably would’ve let Deb clean up the oatmeal on the floor or maybe I would’ve cleaned it up since I made the mess, but would’ve complained about it.
In recent years I am changing — I am becoming more like Jesus. I have developed a more relaxed way about life and was usually able to respond to stress with thanks and praise to the Lord and consideration for others.
How Wes Became More Like Jesus
How did I experience transformation? What enabled me to be patient, positive, responsible, and kind in a situation that previously I would’ve reacted poorly to? For some time I had been training with Jesus to learn how to become the kind of person who rejoiced in the Lord and showed love for people near to me in all situations.
I have discovered the wisdom of, “Don’t try. Do.” And have been using spiritual disciplines to grow in God’s grace (2 Peter 3:18).
For instance I practiced fasting from food while feasting on the manna from heaven and regularly met with a spiritual mentor to help open up my heart and life to God. Also by using abiding prayers (mostly from the Psalms) to seek to practice God’s presence continually. In fact, I was praying a Scripture at the moment when I spilled oatmeal, which of course, is a big part of what helped me react with peace, joy, and love.
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Thank you!
Ron
Ronald Bender- President/CEO Bender Consulting.~http://www.benderbytes.net/bender_consult
President and CEO of Bender Consulting Ron Bender shares the Truth from his heart.
