A Christ-like Life

The discussion question was a good one. “Who do you know, or have known, who best exemplifies Christ?” The list that popped into my head was a good one. Of course at the top of my list was Beloved and then various saints who have come in and out of my life through the years. But I finally landed on my grandfather. In my eyes he was truly “like Christ”. I remember having a conversation with my aging Aunt Kathleen who was in her nineties at the time. Grandpop had long since left this earth. As we were sitting in her living room one evening discussing our family history she said “You know, Grandpop (her father-in-law) was the most Christ-like man I have ever known.” She went on to share story after story of a man who faced adversity with grace, who gave up everything without complaint, who loved and served his wife though a debilitating disease left her an invalid for the last fifteen years of her life.

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My grandfather was successful. He held a high position in the railroad. He owned a small tobacco plantation. He had a lovely home in the city. He was highly respected in the community. He was on the board of directors at the local bank. He had four handsome sons and two beautiful daughters. He seemed to have it all.

And then everything changed. His oldest son, Jack died at the age of twelve unexpectedly from Typhoid Fever. Then someone embezzled a large sum of money from the bank, before banks were insured and so the Board of Directors chose to come up with the stolen funds. Grandpop sold his plantation with all monies going to the bank. Then the depression hit and with that came the loss of their large beautiful home. He simply packed up the house and family and moved them to a two bedroom bungalow in a not so nice neighborhood. By now most of the children were grown. And then his beloved wife developed Rheumatoid Arthritis and for the next fifteen years until her death was bedridden, unable to do the simplest things for herself, in constant pain and suffering.

All people will experience some loss. It might be financial. It might be health. It might be the loss of a loved one. But few people suffer quite as much loss as Grandpop. And yet it wasn’t the loss that was so extraordinary. It was his response. I never knew him to speak ill of anyone. I never knew him to show anger over the injustices of his losses. I never knew him to have anything but a happy countenance.

I never knew him to show anything to anyone but true love. He was gentle, winsome, loyal to friends, a servant to his wife, not to mention, an exceptional gardener. In his presence even the most hyperactive grandchild would feel calm. There was never hurry or panic and worry or anxiety. Yes, he would be my first choice for the “Most Christ-Like Award”.

I have been doing an in-depth study this summer on the life of Christ. A couple of weeks ago I told you about a magnificent book written by John MacArthur called “One Perfect Life” which came out this year. It is a masterpiece. I am devouring it, moving slowly from page to page and I am beginning to see Christ as never before. Above all, I see his attitude as he deals with constant misunderstanding and rejection. I see his great willingness to heal and to teach and to preach even those who mock him. And I see his self sacrifice, always giving to others even when completely exhausted. I see the losses of friends, respect, reputation, rest, and finally life. I am beginning to see even more the extraordinary greatness of the God/man as he walked on earth.

I look at my Grandpop and wonder at how he did it. One clue is that he spent every morning in the Word of God focusing on the One he wanted to emulate. If his life is any example I would say it worked.

1 Peter 1:15-16

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written,

“Be holy, for I am holy.”

Exclusion

Lily wasn’t invited to the birthday party. Though the neighbor kids (5 of them) spend most of their waking hours at Lily’s family’s home, the ten year old did not include Lily on her guest list. She did hand out an invitation to another girl in front of Lily. She also sent her younger sister to invite one of Lily’s friends who was playing at Lily’s home. 

Lily is my granddaughter. She is ten, gentle natured, loving and well, beautiful. I have never heard her say a bad thing about anyone, even on this occasion. And now, someone was excluding her. I talked to Lily’s mom, and expressed my opinion (you can imagine what THAT was!). After all someone was behaving in a hurtful manner and the target just happened to be one of those I love dearly? I had visions of giving the thoughtless child a piece of my mind and perhaps punching her out. Now don’t act shocked! If you are a mother I KNOW you have had the same reaction when someone has hurt YOUR child. Three days after the party, Lily was in charge of making the dessert for the family. She chose a particularly good cookie, one that only made about fifteen. After everyone had enjoyed the dessert, Lily announced that she was taking the rest of the cookies to the “enemy”. (My word not hers) And so she packed up the cookies and delivered them with good cheer and loving kindness. 

And I marvel. 

Today I was reading the beatitudes and came across something I had never picked up on before. It goes like this: “Blessed are you when men hate you and persecute you and when they EXCLUDE you….. Rejoice in that day and be exceedingly glad and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven..” (Luke 6:22-3 NKJ) 

And I realized that Christ was often excluded, talked about behind His back, and treated unfairly. Yet He knew the secret that He wants us to know. Love those who hurt you. Love them well. 

The Christian life truly is impossible. That sin nature that likes to rear its ugly head still reveals on occasion that I am walking around with a constant battle taking place with me! I want to always take cookies to those who hurt me or malign me or exclude me. I want to always think the best of everyone and rejoice when those feelings get squashed. I want to respond in the same way Lily did. But I don’t always do it. 

Now I am not so naive to think that Lily will always choose to send cookies to the one who has excluded her. Life will become crueler and harsher. But for today she has exposed her Mimi’s sin nature and I have repented in sack cloth and ashes. How much more beautiful is a garland of love than a string of strong accusations. And bottom line – there is a reward and it is not here, not yet. 

So for today, I have put on a heart of love for the neighbor child. There WILL be another test. I am planning on passing the next one with flying colors, and I think I can as long as I keep my eye on that promised prize! 

“For indeed your reward is great in heaven.”

 Luke 6:23

Chasing Cats

Jim would NOT come in. It was time for bed and Beloved and I were tired but Jim refused to come. Oh he heard us calling. In fact he would run right past us and not even look our way. He was focused and nothing would deter him from his mission. And so we went to bed and left him outside. 

Jim is our dog. He is a good dog. But he had caught the scent of a cat and that changed everything. So we left him outside to continue his frantic roaming. 

About every two hours I would wake up, go to the door and call him. I could hear the jingling of the tags on his collar. I knew he was close by yet even though I called him in my most commanding voice, he would not acknowledge me. By 3:00 AM I could not only hear his jingling collar but I could also hear his extreme heavy panting, yet he would not cease his endless striving. 

At 6:00 AM Beloved got up for the morning and went to the door. Jim literally dragged his exhausted body over the door sill and dropped in his tracks on the floor. His tongue was hanging out and his panting was so severe I thought he would die and his eyes were glazed over and he could not lift his head or wag his tail. He simply could not move. He did not eat breakfast. He did not have his bone for lunch. He did not want a chew toy. He did not eat his supper. He did not move all day. Jim had worn himself out, he was totally spent. 

And the cat? She sat out in the side yard relaxed, happy, calm, licking her paws. She had had a good night’s rest up in the tree. 

Sometimes I can give so much for so little. And sometimes there IS a voice calling, come and rest, come to bed and cease that crazy striving. 

Psalm 4:4 

Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

Retreat

Retreat (ri-treet) v. to withdraw after being defeated or when faced with danger or difficulty, to go away to a place of shelter. Retreat n. withdrawal unto privacy or seclusion, a place for this. A period of withdrawal from worldly activities for prayer and meditation. 

Last week I had the privilege of going on a prayer retreat with our Sunday School class. I “withdrew from difficulty”. I went to “a place of shelter” and “withdrew into privacy or seclusion”. It was a “place of withdrawal from worldly activity for prayer and meditation”. Retreat. Rest. Refreshment. Restoration. Renewal. Heaven! 

Many years ago I took my leadership team to a resort not too far from Atlanta. It was quiet with chalets nestled around a small lake. We had spent the afternoon together followed by dinner at a nearby restaurant. That evening as we gathered for dessert in one of the cabins I announced that the next day we would be enjoying a day of silence. In other words we would not speak from the time we got up until six o’clock that evening when we would once again meet for dinner. The response was interesting. I can’t say any one of the twelve women thought that was a good idea. Was it fear of boredom or wasted time? Or was it fear of just being alone for so long? Or was it just the unknown? After all we are very close friends and the chance to get together was always a treat. Our previous retreats had always involved a speaker and discussion. Silence was NOT what anyone expected…and yet, because I am the leader (?) they reluctantly agreed. 

It was during those twelve hours that I learned a valuable lesson. Silence really is golden. My mind began to calm down and be undivided and I could think clearly. My body began to truly relax. Prayer came easily and because I wasn’t in a hurry, I could read the Word slowly and deliberately. And in that silence, time seemed to stand still and I truly experienced the presence of God and true fellowship with Him. 

As we gathered together that evening the report was the same. All of the ladies had found it to be invaluable. They too had experienced so much of what I had. In that quiet place, God had met them there. 

I should not have been surprised. God tell us clearly in his word, “Be STILL and KNOW that I am God.” But this weekend I picked up more motivation that I had somehow missed these many years. Jesus says when we pray we should go into an inner room, close the door and pray in secret. And our Father in heaven who hears us in secret will repay or reward us. Amazing! 

Lance Brady was our speaker at the prayer retreat this weekend. He gave four great messages encouraging us to become praying people, to make prayer a priority in our lives. It was during his unpacking of this verse that the word “repay” hit my heart. Lance explained that God understands the conflict in our souls, the seemingly waste of time silence and isolation may appear, but God says He will reward us for secret time in the closet. I want to know God. 

I want a reward. Perhaps the reward is that I will truly come to know God in a ever deepening way. And that would be the best reward of all. 

But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret, will repay you 

Matthew 6:6

One Perfect Life

One of my professors, the late Dr. Howard Hendricks, said we would do well to spend our whole lives studying the life of Jesus Christ. It is not only an inspiration but a statement of challenge. How many of us have actually spent even more than a few months studying the complete life of Jesus?

For the last couple of years I have wanted to do an in-depth study of Jesus, the man. What was it like to be with Him, to be taught by Him and to learn from His example? He was a man…God, yes, but God in human form. And because of that He did have emotions, He did get tired and yet He chose to do the Father’s will at all points. 

I want to see Him, really see Him as He was, as He is, at the wedding at Cana, walking on water, healing the leper. For so many months other responsibilities and studies have bogged me down. Yet now seminary is behind me, the Be Amazing Study is ready to go to print and I have a little free time. I want to become familiar with Christ’s travels and what the places were like that He visited and exactly what did He do in each one of those cities, towns and villages. I want to “see His face” when He healed the leper and I want to “see” the leper” when he realized a life of isolation, pain, poverty and sorrow were behind him. I want to experience the conversation with the woman at the well and see the results as the townspeople came rushing out to meet Him. 

I was reading World Magazine recently and they highlighted a new book by John MacArthur, 'One Perfect Life'. He has always been an author who could take hard things and put them into words I could understand. I bought it immediately and have been drinking in every word! It is a masterpiece. He has arranged all of the verses in the Bible that have to do with Jesus in chronological order. Then because he knew I was easily distracted, he has sectioned the book into smaller “bites”, smaller chapters. So my goal is to “see Jesus” and from that develop an even deeper love for Jesus the Man, Jesus our God and Jesus my dearest friend. . . 

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; 

John 14:7a

Graduation

Did you hear the cheers? I have a hunch some came from heaven, more came from my assistant professor who grades my papers and has helped me in several ways, many came from my family, but the most came from me! At 5:12 PM yesterday I pressed “send”, and with that my last paper went to Dallas Theological Seminary where I have been student on and off for about 13 years. Along with the paper and assurance that I have completed all of the course work, came an enormous sense of relief. I have lived under the pressure of papers, readings and projects due for a long time now. When you are paying $1500 to take one class per semester the pressure to get all you can get out of the experience is heightened. Though I have enjoyed much of it and have learned a great deal, I have also seldom had the luxury of just reading for fun, or wasting time on the frivolous or lingering in a shop. Why? Because there was something hanging over my head, one more thing I had to finish, one more text book I had to read. You know the feeling if you have had any experience with the education system. Even fourth graders know what I am talking about!

And so with the press of the send button on my computer, my life instantly became less complicated, less frenzied, less demanding. I am looking forward to having some free time, some me-time, and some friend time. I have graduated.

The whole concept of graduation is intriguing. The word itself means “a process of gradual change”. Yet with some graduations the change takes place quickly. Years ago I attended my granddaughter’s preschool graduation ceremony. It had all of the pageantry one can expect from four year olds. Yet in her life little changed. But it won’t be long before that same grandchild will be graduating from High School and then college and that will bring about enormous changes in her life.

My “graduation” will be May 10 and after that I will receive a piece of paper that says I have completed the course work for a Certificate in Graduate Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. For me, little will change except the satisfaction of knowing I accomplished a goal. So sometimes graduation brings about an enormous change in life and sometimes, like my degree and the preschool certificate, little changes.

But there is coming a day, when I will graduate from this world into the next. It will be the ultimate graduation, the ultimate change. All that I do now is simply course work for what is to come. Sometimes it is very hard (reminds me of my Soteriology class that just about did me in) and sometimes it is simply pure joy (like Dynamics of Christian Leadership). Yet everything is in preparation for THAT day. I have come to see that a life worth living is never free from pressure. I don’t want to graduate with a D- but would so love to graduate with honors…honors for the One who is my all. I have a chance to spend my class time on earth working for the glory of Jesus Christ. And Scripture tells me there will not be a diploma waiting for me but perhaps a crown and the voice of the one I love saying, ”Well done good and faithful servant.” And then all of the work, time and sacrifice will be worth it. Graduation Day is coming!

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness….

Pay Attention

I wasn’t paying attention. I was driving to my dermatologist’s offices and was paying little attention to where I was going. I had a lot of things bartering for attention in my brain. I had groceries to buy and a house to clean and three papers to finish for seminary and …the list goes on so I won’t bore you. But the point is I WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

I had just turned on Westside Parkway and decided that if I turned left at the light I might be able to land somewhere near where I was going. And so without thinking I made a left turn. Just as I got half of my 1998 Toyota Forerunner into oncoming traffic, a Chevy Malibu came out of nowhere and ran right into me.

Many thoughts descended upon my brain at once. Here are a few:

1. Hey…how come HE did that!
2. He should have turned into the other lane and missed me.
3. He should have stopped sooner.
4. He wasn’t paying attention.
5. He…he...he…

But then as I sat there reeling, reality set in. I WAS WRONG. It was totally my fault. Though I wanted more than anything to blame it all on the other guy, the truth was the blame was all mine. I was NOT paying attention and ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Distractions come so easily and can cost us dearly. For me it is a large fine and a dented car that doesn’t look smart. But I have thought often of how blessed I was that I did not kill someone. It leaves me shaken. Sometimes the consequences of not paying attention can be lifelong and even eternal. Busyness can distract me from the Word. Outside activities can distract me from the home. Work can distract me from intimacy with my husband. And blaming others can distract me from owning up to my mistakes and dealing with them in a mature and wise way.

Proverbs 5:1 gives us some good advice:

My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

Lend your ear to my understanding,

That you may preserve discretion,

And your lips may keep knowledge.

Proverbs 5:1

So are you paying attention? The consequences could be greater than you could ever imagine.