Valuing People
Have you ever noticed how your values shape your character and transform your life and perceptions? Our values are not the things that we say, but rather they come from deep within our minds and psyches. They drive our behaviors and thus transform our characters because we will become like that which we repeatedly do. Some repeatedly live in defeat and being a victim others live in ways that overcome – even when their physical situation does not change. As it has been said: "It's what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness—all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution."
So then how do we transform our lives and live anew in grace and mercy? We are to do it by living in such a way that what becomes second nature is redemptive in the character that we dwell. How we treat people is indicative of our relationship with God and our respect for God. From Matthew 25:31-40 (The Message) I want to share the first part of a parable of Jesus:
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: “I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.'
"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me.'”
Did you catch that last part? They were honestly surprised that they were selected to go to a reward. Why? Because they had behaved as simple caring honoring and loving people who treated people well and looked after the most unlikely of people. In short, they valued people and treated tem with love, dignity, and respect.
How low has the world sunk when we have to see a person’s financial ability or similarity to us determines how the should be treated or heard. We need to embrace a new ethos of relating to one another. One that sees in others the greatness to which God has called us. One that sees us as servants one to another and embraces the call to heal one another’s brokenness.
This week I pray that you embrace the unassuming touch of God to be a vessel of change and hope for those around you. I also pray that you not even realize that you do it by it becoming a part of your personality.
Blessings,
Pastor Greg
So then how do we transform our lives and live anew in grace and mercy? We are to do it by living in such a way that what becomes second nature is redemptive in the character that we dwell. How we treat people is indicative of our relationship with God and our respect for God. From Matthew 25:31-40 (The Message) I want to share the first part of a parable of Jesus:
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: “I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.'
"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me.'”
Did you catch that last part? They were honestly surprised that they were selected to go to a reward. Why? Because they had behaved as simple caring honoring and loving people who treated people well and looked after the most unlikely of people. In short, they valued people and treated tem with love, dignity, and respect.
How low has the world sunk when we have to see a person’s financial ability or similarity to us determines how the should be treated or heard. We need to embrace a new ethos of relating to one another. One that sees in others the greatness to which God has called us. One that sees us as servants one to another and embraces the call to heal one another’s brokenness.
This week I pray that you embrace the unassuming touch of God to be a vessel of change and hope for those around you. I also pray that you not even realize that you do it by it becoming a part of your personality.
Blessings,
Pastor Greg
posted by Covenant of the Cross at
7:43 PM
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