Good Monday morning MABC!
First of all, thank you for allowing us time away with family. It took me many years to realize that my first ministry should always be family and not the church and/or football. I never did a funeral where the person we were remembering ever uttered the words “I wish I had worked more hours” or “I wish I had won more games.” It is usually I wish I had spent more time with family. Please remember, no matter how “jacked up” your family is, your family is your family. And as we have gathered in one large house with about 18 people including siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews and their significant others as well as my dad and his brother and wife, I am reminded of that every day!
Yesterday’s worship service for us was a great reminder of how we deal with family and others, including our church family. The pastor spoke on 1 Timothy 6 verses 1-5. My main take away was this:
Don’t treat others based on who they are but based on who you are!
Paul is trying to tell Timothy that everything we do should be a reflection of who we are in Jesus Christ. We are all sinners and God meets us in that sin but doesn’t want us to stay in our sin. His goal for us is to reflect Jesus, become more Christ like so that others may come to know Jesus. If I am to reflect Christ to them, I have to treat them based on how Jesus treated me over the years especially those years where football was my first priority. Jesus still showered me with grace and mercy and forgave me 700 times 700 times! That’s who He is and that’s how I am to be and act towards others. I don’t always agree with the way my siblings act and talk or even how their kids act. But Jesus didn’t always like the way I acted and yet because of who He is I am where I am today. I wish I could have heard that message in the car on the way up here so that I was prepared for my long weekend! Don’t get me wrong, we have a lot of fun where we are together but sometimes…well, you all know how that goes in your own families.
It is something we also have to remember with our church family. That family is together – I hope – because we recognize that we are ALL sinners and need Jesus to help us become more like Him every day. The problem Paul says in verse 3 is that some people don’t get this whole idea. That person he says likes to “quibble” and causes arguments ending in jealousy and division. Paul describes that person as arrogant and lacking understanding. In this day and age, the church already faces enough division and rancor from the outside world, we don’t need it from within. Let’s treat each other the way He would treat us. Practice the spiritual disciplines being covered in the “Rooted” series so we can become a better reflection of Christ. I hope that you remember who you are in Him and are being built up in Him every day so that you may treat others as He would treat others (Col. 2:6-7). If you have put your trust for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Jesus, strive to live like Him every day in the hope that others will notice and want some of what you have!
Be back in the office Wednesday after lunch. Looking forward to seeing your Father’s Day ties next Sunday men!
Pastor Rick
