Meditations on God’s Word Edit
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice
The child in us built sand castles
(Sharon G. Tate reblog 07/20/2024) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word
Meditations on God’s Word Edit
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus 6 who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)
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When my son was in middle school, he was big enough to be a helper shoveling snow. Of course, being a kid, playing in the snow was what he would rather do. Yet, there were several days that he chose to go shovel–by himself. . .
My son and I started shoveling together at a friend’s home when the fatigue she experienced from cancer became overwhelming. It was a good opportunity to teach empathy, compassion and giving with no expectation of getting something in return, except the knowledge that we were doing this out of caring for someone else.
My friend was soon placed in a care facility as her cancer rapidly progressed. No one was at the house. A big snow came, and my son asked to go outside and shovel. However, I soon discovered it wasn’t our drive he was shoveling. He had gone to her house and was doing the whole drive by himself. He said it didn’t matter if she was there or not. My son wanted to keep it open for her—for when she came home. He continued to do this for several more snows.
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We read and hear about the heroes who give their lives—veterans of war and conflict, first responders in a tragic occurrence, teachers and citizens who stand up and protect others while sacrificing self. We may wonder if we could have been them at that time, in that circumstance, in that place.
“Heroes”
We may not read and hear about the silent heroes who give sacrificially daily as caregivers, as mothers of young children, as fathers working two jobs, as behind-the-scenes volunteers who cuddle and calm the opioid-addicted babies, as hospice volunteers who sit by the bedsides of the dying with no family, holding their hands to the last breath.
But we can read about the One who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us all. Jesus bore our sins, though sinless; He suffered humiliation and torture, though innocent; He forgave those who crucified Him, though they were guilty; He died that we might live eternally, though we never deserved such mercy and grace.
Our society desperately needs those who would strive to be Christ-like and have more empathy, more compassion, more giving of self. We each need to be that “hero” who would give so completely and empty self for others.
Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)
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The little boy shoveling the snow all alone for someone who never saw it, doing it out of selfless caring and love– just a kid who would rather play in the snow but chose to give the gift of himself in a labor of love– was that “hero” in that time, in that circumstance, in that place.
I had to tell him she wasn’t coming home, and he could put down the shovel, that she knew he was doing it for her and she was grateful for his sacrifice. The instrument: A shovel. The life lesson: Denial of self for another.
And the Teacher continues to instruct us always in the lessons of selfless giving, maybe through the heart of a child.
Sharon G. Tate blog Meditations on God’s Word (teacherforjesus.com)
WHO ARE MY MOTHER AND BROTHERS?
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. 47 Someone told Him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50)
WHO IS MY SON?
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:25-27)
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” He replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10: 25-29)
Jesus answered the question with a parable of a man who was beaten, robbed, and left to die. Three people reacted to the man’s plight—two passing by on either side of the road, one stopping and going the extra mile to provide assistance and healing.
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:36-37)
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Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family, neighbors. We tend to have a very limited view of family and neighbors. God’s perspective is much larger, broader, and inclusive. The bloodline of family with God is really from Christ, not from our great-great-greats…. down the lineage of personal ancestry. My neighbors are, also, my family, each one created by God.
In every person, I can find a common heritage, a common Savior, a common love. I should not see with eyes that only view similarity. I must, also, look into the differences and find commonality in them. The commonality is from that portion of God’s divine nature imbued in each soul. It is my directive as well to show acceptance, mercy, and love to others who are my “neighbors.” I, too, must “Go and do likewise.”
(Sharon G. Tate 01/26/24 blog) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”
(which means God with us). Matthew 1:23
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
He is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
The baby’s eyes reflect the Light,
Conceived to serve mankind,
Little hands and feet will grow
To endure the pain of nails.
A savior born to redeem must die.
Can it be that one so small
Bears such a weight as this.
The child, the man, the Son–as One,
Carrying the burden of promise-
At the Manger, the Garden, the Cross;
Compassion, redemption, salvation.
A cry at birth, a cry at death.
Can it be that one so small
Bears such a weight as this.
As it has been told to us through the Word, let us rejoice in the birthof Jesus and the fulfillment of the prophecy that led to our salvation.
Truth, Honor, Justice, Purity, Loveliness,Graciousness, Excellence, Worthy of Praise
“ 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).
Paul’s directive to keep a mind/heart-focus toward Godly fruits of the Spirit is crucial: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. . . (Proverbs 23:7). What we think directs what we do and how we do it. Is it done with truth, honor, justice, purity, loveliness, graciousness, and excellence? Is it worthy of praise from God? Do we ask ourselves these questions before we act or speak?
“Think—before you act” was one poster on my classroom door. I, sometimes, had it taped on both sides of the glass window, so students saw this message while entering and exiting from my room. Do we need a poster to remind us—to STOP and THINK before we ACT?
What we put before our eyes will become what we see in our thoughts and, ultimately, what we do in our actions and utter in our speech. The Israelites were told to constantly and consistently place the commandments before them and their children: 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord, 5 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
I still have posters, plaques, and sayings to remind me to STOP and THINK. They are everywhere in my home. Some are included below:
**If you exit from the laundry room door to the garage, you will encounter one on that door: “Help me to remember, Lord, that nothing’s going to happen today that you and I can’t handle together.”
**If you enter my condo from the garage, you will see the message: “God bless.”
**In my kitchen, you will see many messages, two being: “The Lord is my light and salvation.” (Psalm 27:1) and “Lord, guide me with your gentle hand.”
**In the dining room, there is the plaque “Prayer changes things” and the name “JESUS” in a wooden cast that some cannot clearly see until it is pointed out—and, from then on, it is before them.
**Moving to the living room, there is a picture of a deer herd near a stream of water with this scripture imprinted beneath: “As the deer pants for water, so my soul pants for thee” (Psalm 42:1).
**In the hall, I have a crewel-embroidered and cross-stitched picture that I made of the 23rd Psalm.
**My favorite scripture is in my bedroom on the bedpost: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). It is before me—and beside me–every morning and every night.
What reminds you to have a heart/mind focus on God and these fruits of the Spirit, to think always upon these things: Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, whatever is excellent and whatever is worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)
What is before you—that reminds you constantly and consistently of God?
Sharon G. Tate blog 03/05/23 (teacherforjesus.com) Meditations on God’s Word
Meditations on God's Word 