"Why do you care so much?"

"You see, at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly die. But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through life!" - Romans 5:6-11

When I worked at camp, there was a kid there that I loved a lot. Sadly, I can't remember much about him, other than he was, in most rights, a "problem child." He was always getting into arguments with other campers, always in trouble with his counselors. But when I came around, he was always on his best behaviour. Well, the best you'll get from an 11 year old. We played and joked around, and I encouraged him to participate (fairly) in the activities they were doing. But I also rebuked him when he needed it, taking care not to yell and scream at him, but to use reasoning and speak to him with respect. And it seemed to work well. 

One night I was on my way to visit a friend who was on duty to sit with his cabin. When I walked by this kid's cabin, he was sitting outside on the porch, sulking. I walked up and sat with him while his counselor went back inside to deal with the rest of the cabin. I asked him what he did to be sent out here and he told me. And I asked him if he knew that he should have been sent outside. We talked a bit more, and then he looked at me and asked "why do you care so much?" It was a sincere question. And one I didn't know the answer to. I just knew that I had a lot of love for that kid, and he needed to be shown a lot of love.

As I've grown, that quality in me seems to have all but disappeared. Now I can't be bothered to go out of my way to even be nice to people, let alone go out of my way to show them that someone cares, even though it may seem the rest of the world has given up on them. And perhaps not everyone is like my camper, they don't have the same situation or the same rebellious nature that needs to be diffused. But they still need that extra bit of attention. Yet now I become exasperated and write them off as hopeless. When did I become so uncaring and bitter? I suppose this is not the time to get into some Freudian psychoanalysis of myself, as it is not important. What is important is that I get back to loving others.

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

This story is also a good lesson in the love God has for us. We are sinners, we are troubled. We are people about whom God could just raise his hands and say "it's hopeless!" Yet, even though the world may have given up on us, God is always there, always loving us, always showing He cares. It's something we'll never understand. But with God, we can always look up when we've gotten ourselves into a mess, and He's there. And we will constantly wonder "why do You care so much?"

Turn around...

Repent. According to the Amplified Bible, it means: Change your mind for the better and heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins.

I think that's a pretty interesting definition. "With abhorrence of your past sins." I'm usually ashamed of myself for sinning, some times much moreso than others. But do I abhor them? Most often not. Usually I feel bad because I know it's a sin and, as a "good Christian", I shouldn't do it. But I don't think I ever hate them as God hates them. Not the things I do. Because I don't do detestable things. Or so I like to think...

So where does the truth lie in repentance? Is it enough to just ask for forgiveness? Is it enough to ask with a sincere desire to change? Some things to ponder, I guess.

They say that faith can find a Savior

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" - Hebrews 11:1

It's fairly easy to have faith as a child. It's not as simple to have a childlike faith? Often I feel God's presence so close to me, I know without a doubt that He is there. But what about all those times when God seems so far away, when it seems as if He's not even paying attention to me? God speaks to us in a whisper, in His still quiet voice. But often times I want Him to just scream and shout, and demand my attention. Anything to let me know He's there.

So why doesn't God do that? Why doesn't He do whatever He can to make His presence known? "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29).

Why doesn't He rescue us from all our trials and hardships? As our Father, shouldn't God want to keep us from suffering? "For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts, and tells us that we really are God's children. And since we are his children, we will share his treasures--for all God gives to his Son Jesus is now ours too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later." (Romans 8:16-18)

It has been said that if you want something, you have to work for it. "No pain, no gain". To become a good soccer player you must suffer through years of training and practice. To become a doctor or lawyer you must suffer through of schooling. To be a Christian you must suffer through the pain of humanity.

Life is not easy for Christians and non-Christians alike. God's love is not charity. He doesn't see as us poor souls who are suffering, and decides to take away all our pain. Five times in the book of Luke, Jesus tells his disciples that He must suffer and be rejected. As Christians, those called to be Christ-like, we must also "share in his suffering." And herein comes our faith.

It's easy to follow God and to profess our love for Him when things are going our way. Easy to say "I know God loves me, because He's providing all this for me." That assurance is not so easy to have when we are going through all sorts of struggles and difficulties. 


"Our hope for you is firm, for we know that as you share in the sufferings, you also share in the encouragement." 2 Corinthians 1:7

God's fullness

[Live] full in the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:19

The word "full" could be defined as "not lacking anything." Or, as a synonym, "complete." So, this verse, by that definition, could be read, "live completely in God's completeness." 

And what an amazing thought that is. God's completeness. God's full provision. God, who lacks in nothing. And we, too, can have a part in this. We can be fully encompassed in everything we need, never for want of anything. And all we have to do is choose to live this way. To live full in the fullness of God.

Persistence

When I have a good relationship with someone, I am usually more confortable with confronting that person. I do not know the president of my company, so if I were to go to him with a request and he denied it, I would probably count my losses and give up. But with my store leader, supervisors, etc. with whom I have a working relationship, built on trust and respect, if my request is pushed aside (and it is a valid request), I am much more comfortable going back with my request more forcefully (yet with respect and gentleness) in order to make sure that I am heard, and that my dedication is known.

My relationship with God needs to be as such that I feel comfortable going to him persisitently with my requests (those that are in God's will). When our prayers are not answered right away, often we give up and move on. God knows our hearts and desire before we even come to Him. But to get into the habit of being consistent in prayers helps us to develop a character of dedication. When we abandon our prayers when we don't immediately get the result we want, we become apathetic.

We are not our own

"Lord, I know that a person's life doesn't really belong to him. no one can control his own life." - Jeremiah 10:23 NCV

Children are not capable of directing themselves. They constantly need guidance, and gain lessons on life. However, as they become adults, they feel they've learned all they need to know to direct their own lives.

Yet, we will never know everything. Life is a constant series of learning, whether it be from parents, teachers, froemds or other means. Our knowledge ultimately comes from God. Only He knows what was, what is, and what shall be.

If anyone wants to know "why do we need God?" I direct them to Romans 7:14-25. In the Message, verse 16 says: "So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary." And verse 18 states: "I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it." 

We are not strong enough to always make the right decisions. Because of our free will, our minds are always at war with themselves, pulling us this way and that. The natural tendency of man is to do what pleases him, the things that bring the most comfort, even when we know those things aren't the best in the long run. Cake may sound like a much tastier snack than fruit, or a salad, so we eat it, paying no regard to the stomach ache or the extra pounds we know we'll soon have. Our minds want to live in the now, and ignore the task of planning for the future. 

But God has only one will. With God, there is only one direction you can go when you're walking with Him. And though at the present it may seem that God is trying to direct you to a place that seems detrimental to your present happiness, ultimately, if you stick it out, things turn out for the best. Because that is what He promised.

If this response is fitting for non-Christians, it holds even more validity for Christians. There are many out there who slander the name of Jesus. And we wonder how God could allow such a thing to continue. But Paul has told us. The actions of these believers come from a desire to do good. But they have let that desire get the best of them and have run off without waiting to discover what God's plan is. As a result, evil is there to trip them up, and instead of bringing glory to God, they bring Him dishonour. There is nothing wrong with being gung-ho and wanting to go out and do God's will. I applaud those who are. But we must be patient and wait for God's command first: and always.