"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
Last week I posted a thought I had about how we should treat one another. I said we should allow people to do what they can for us not what we expect them to do. Have you ever been in a predicament where you felt absolutely alone and like you needed your army to surround you in a certain way and it didn't play out the way you envisioned? People came, loved, and helped but not the way you would have or not to the extent that you imagined? Have you ever helped someone but you felt like you didn't do enough for them; not because you didn't try but because their expectations were too high? I have lived both experiences and quite frankly, I am done. I have been disappointed in people too often and felt inadequate too many times. I will instead act justly, be merciful, and humble when serving others and receiving blessings from those who love me in my times of need.
In thinking about how we treat one other through expectations and such, I realized that we are a highly entitled society. Maybe that is why so many people outside our country dislike us so much. We expect people to do and behave towards us in a certain way (our way not God's). We feel entitled to money, health care, jobs, material possessions, vacations, education, and on and on. Our entitlement is man-made not God-made. Yes, I believe that we should treat people a certain way and laws should be in place to protect that. However, I believe that our measuring rod is Jesus. He did not come to this earth demanding to be king. He could have but didn't. He chose quite the opposite. He came to serve: to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. He could have demanded to be treated like a king, given a palace, and ruled the world but he didn't. He served his people; his followers. He washed feet and fed those who loved him and showed love to those who didn't. He did not persecute or yell at or belittle his opponents like we do today. He suffered and died for us. This is quite the opposite of living an entitled life if you ask me.
Our expectations should mirror Jesus. He treated people (ALL people) well because he loved and lived Micah 6:8. Never once did he shake his finger in someone else's face telling them he was entitled to be treated any different than he was. He taught the love of the Father and the truth of the living Word justly, mercifully, and humbly. His crown came in thorns and he let it be. If someone placed a crown of thorns on our head today lawsuits would fly and protest would be heard around the world.
I am not implying that people should be tortured and treated unfairly. What I am saying is that maybe, just maybe, Jesus should be our measuring rod. He should guide us in how we interact with others whether it be in a political setting or how we accept the blessing of someone loving on us in our time of need. We need to stop living entitled and start walking humbly. We need to stop hating and start showing mercy. We need to stop using our opinions as the letter of the law and measure justice to Him who GAVE HIS LIFE for us when we did NOT deserve it one single bit.
So, as I venture out into my day, I will try my very best to live justly, show mercy, and be humble. I will not hold people to too high of standards in how I think they should behave in my life. I will give what God calls me to give to others and not what they expect me to give. I will love the way Jesus first loved me. I didn't deserve the sacrifice He gave, why on earth should I feel entitled to anything else?
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Last week I posted a thought I had about how we should treat one another. I said we should allow people to do what they can for us not what we expect them to do. Have you ever been in a predicament where you felt absolutely alone and like you needed your army to surround you in a certain way and it didn't play out the way you envisioned? People came, loved, and helped but not the way you would have or not to the extent that you imagined? Have you ever helped someone but you felt like you didn't do enough for them; not because you didn't try but because their expectations were too high? I have lived both experiences and quite frankly, I am done. I have been disappointed in people too often and felt inadequate too many times. I will instead act justly, be merciful, and humble when serving others and receiving blessings from those who love me in my times of need.
In thinking about how we treat one other through expectations and such, I realized that we are a highly entitled society. Maybe that is why so many people outside our country dislike us so much. We expect people to do and behave towards us in a certain way (our way not God's). We feel entitled to money, health care, jobs, material possessions, vacations, education, and on and on. Our entitlement is man-made not God-made. Yes, I believe that we should treat people a certain way and laws should be in place to protect that. However, I believe that our measuring rod is Jesus. He did not come to this earth demanding to be king. He could have but didn't. He chose quite the opposite. He came to serve: to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. He could have demanded to be treated like a king, given a palace, and ruled the world but he didn't. He served his people; his followers. He washed feet and fed those who loved him and showed love to those who didn't. He did not persecute or yell at or belittle his opponents like we do today. He suffered and died for us. This is quite the opposite of living an entitled life if you ask me.
Our expectations should mirror Jesus. He treated people (ALL people) well because he loved and lived Micah 6:8. Never once did he shake his finger in someone else's face telling them he was entitled to be treated any different than he was. He taught the love of the Father and the truth of the living Word justly, mercifully, and humbly. His crown came in thorns and he let it be. If someone placed a crown of thorns on our head today lawsuits would fly and protest would be heard around the world.
I am not implying that people should be tortured and treated unfairly. What I am saying is that maybe, just maybe, Jesus should be our measuring rod. He should guide us in how we interact with others whether it be in a political setting or how we accept the blessing of someone loving on us in our time of need. We need to stop living entitled and start walking humbly. We need to stop hating and start showing mercy. We need to stop using our opinions as the letter of the law and measure justice to Him who GAVE HIS LIFE for us when we did NOT deserve it one single bit.
So, as I venture out into my day, I will try my very best to live justly, show mercy, and be humble. I will not hold people to too high of standards in how I think they should behave in my life. I will give what God calls me to give to others and not what they expect me to give. I will love the way Jesus first loved me. I didn't deserve the sacrifice He gave, why on earth should I feel entitled to anything else?
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Comments