The Power of With

I was sitting in a Pei Wei on Tuesday eating lunch to pass the time between classes and to catch up on my Bible study. I got my book out and reached for my Bible and “Crap,” my I left my Bible at home. I can’t hear from God or learn about Him without my Bible, now can I? But I started reading my study book to at least get familiar with the material. And then it was like “BAM,” the word “with” was right there. You know with, as in with people in community. God was telling me that that was a huge part, if not the main point, of being a Christ follower on this planet we call Earth. Let me explain what “with” is all about, at least one aspect of it.

On Monday night the guys from my Sunday night college men’s Bible study, yeah the one I was reading for above, put on a very nice dinner as a surprise for the college girls Monday night study. We did it just to give them something nice and show support for them as part of the Xchange community, you know a random act of kindness kinda thing. Not long after we had all of the girls at my house I noticed that one of them, a good friend of mine, seemed rather down but she was putting on a good face. I asked her about it then let it go. Throughout the night we were all laughing and talking and having a great time just fellowshipping and being with each other, even my sorta down friend. Later while the boys were doing dishes the girls were meeting and having “girl time” and it was obvious that the main topic was my one friend’s crappy weekend. She seemed a little better after that and when the boys were done with dishes we all sat around and talk for quite a while longer just enjoying each others company. We took the girls back to the place we had “kidnapped” them from and said goodnight. Later the day I got a message that said “Tonight was awesome...thank you. You guys brightend up my weekend, you don't even know...” All we did was cook dinner, a lot of dinner, and talk, yet it lifted her spirits immensely.

That was with people. My friend might not have been encouraged that weekend if it were not for her fellow believers coming together for the simple purpose of being with. It also happened recently at another friend’s house during a painting party. We had a lot of different people from different groups just hanging out and painting and being with each other and it was an amazing time of fellowship and encouragement. This is all to say, let us work on the idea of “with” as a community in the Xchange, or whatever your community happens to be. I would wager to say that if we start seriously practicing the idea of “with” in the Xchange we will se God do mighty and amazing things in our midst. We will grow stronger together and closer to Him. So now the challenge, who will do “with” with me? I think, no, I know we can do this. So lets go be “with” each other as a community and see what God does.

His Eyes

The sun was barely visible over the horizon as I walked with my brother James and father Zebedee towards our boat. We passed many other men as they began another day of work. As we walked by I could see their eyes, each man’s seemingly distant, tired, lacking emotion. Then a rabbi I had never seen before came over and said to my brother and I “Come, follow me, and be my disciples.” (Mark 4:21) Immediately we left everything behind and went with him. You may wonder why we left our old life behind, but you have to understand, this man, Jesus, he was a rabbi and besides that, you never looked into His eyes. His eyes were different than the eyes of other men; even other rabbi did not have eyes like His. They were not distant like most men or proud like the rabbis’. They were warm and inviting, full of love. After looking into his eyes you had no choice but to follow him. His eyes always reflected love, even when throwing the money changers from the Temple. He did that out of his love for the Gentiles, so the too could worship Him. And when He was on the cross, in one of His final moments before death, His eyes spoke of the love He had for His mother and His friend John. His eyes were always able to see the true people hiding from the world. He saw people for who they really were and what they really needed.

I had this dream about two years ago while in Oregon and was reminded of it today for some reason. It made me consider, how often do we, I, have the eyes of Jesus. I wan to see people as they really are, not how they present themselves or how the world at large sees them. And even more importantly I want people to see Christ when they see me. I wan them to see the loving eyes that Jesus had. And I want it to be real. That is people see it in me because I live it out every day. Isn't that what being a follower of Jesus is all about? Showing His love to others so we can further God's Kingdom on earth, so that no person goes to hell. That is one of my current goals, to live filled with Christ's love for others and to let it be seen in my DAILY life. Not just every once and a while or just when I feel like it, but every day.