Live, Love, JESUS (Honors Response 4)

"You have not chosen one another, but I have chosen you for one another."

-C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

What is your definition of a good steward?

In class we defined it as not wasting our gifts or resources, to not abuse what we are given, and to dedicate our life to service. 

When Dr. Sunberg visited our class this past week, what she had to say really hit home for me.  She spoke on the love of God in relation to loving our neighbors.  She said that we are some of the most blessed people in the entire world.  For example, I come from a two parent, christian household, I went to a Christian elementary school, struggled with what to wear everyday because I had so much, and I always had food to eat.  My life is truly amazing when I look at how much I have.  God can use our lives in such miraculous ways.

In terms of loving our neighbors, Dr. Sunberg stated that all we need to do is be Jesus to others.  But how can we do that? One word that was pronounced periodically through class was authenticity.  You've heard it before.  Non-christians think that christians are hypocritical.  We judge others, we think that we are better than everyone who is not a christian.  So how do we change this?  They want us to be who we are called to be.  

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'  "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no other commandment greater than these."

- Mark 12:28-31

It shouldn't matter who the person is, we should be Jesus to them.  Love them no matter what they've done because Jesus loves us, despite all of our sins.  Sure, it may be hard, but that's what we are called to do.  Care for them, do all that we can to help them.  We can preach about it all we want in church, but none of it means anything if we don't act upon what God is telling us to do.  We are called to make a difference.  Sure, you're just one person, but you can make a huge difference.  We are called to live an authentic lifestyle.

God has blessed us.  He loves us so incredibly much, and shouldn't we show that love to everyone we come across?