Spring is Coming...

As the weather continues to get colder and colder many of us will inevitably put on layer upon layer in an effort to stay warm. This is the most logical and pragmatic thing to do.

But if you go to any middle school, high school or college, you will notice a guy wearing shorts and a t-shirt. He didn’t bother checking the weather before he got dressed and claims to not get cold. He’s acting like it's spring when the temperature reads 34°.

Now I’m not saying to follow this guy’s example in clothing, but he does provide an excellent example of what it means to follow Christ.

Currently we live in a harsh and broken world, where survival seems to require us to look out for ourselves or our family at the expense of others. A world where getting even is considered good. And you should only be kind to those who are kind to you. A world that says you should only respect those who respect you. Where hurting people hurt people.

Jesus pictures His followers acting differently though…

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 5:43-48)

How do the words of Jesus contrast with what the world says? What would it look like to embody these commands? How would that play out in work? in friendships? in school? in your own family? More than likely you’re going to seem like you’ve lost all your senses. You're going to look like the guy wearing shorts in winter.

But you, like Jesus, know that this world will not always be this way. One day He will come and set all things right. Until then Jesus calls us to bring that new world into today. And when the days are hard and it feels like winter will never end, remember that spring is coming.

By Lee Sharp  

Lee, his wife, Tess, and their 3 children have been members at our Armstrong Mill Campus. They will be moving soon to join the mission at Camp Nathanael in Southeastern Kentucky.