Jesus

TeacherStudent

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

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 expert in law’s 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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My mother is the 85-year-old woman in the nursing home who looks out the window waiting for someone to come;  my brother is the unemployed father of three who stands in line with 500 others hoping for a job; my son is the recently discharged soldier grappling with PTSD and depression; my neighbor is the child fleeing from a country where he is underfed and abused.
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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.”

And what if everyone followed this directive. . .

(Sharon G. Tate 06/11/17 blog)  teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

GIVING TO OTHERS: GIVING TO CHRIST

doing-for-others-but-not-seeingdoing-for-others-when-did-we-see-you-hungry

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.’ ”(Matthew 25:40)

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The window view was alive with people, coming and going, carrying bundles, flowers, gifts. She always placed her wheelchair close to the pane, so she could see the life passing by outside. The elderly woman kept a careful watch for someone she might know, someone who might be coming to visit her.

The people passing by outside the glass weren’t really strangers though, since she saw some of them regularly on their visits to friends or family. She almost knew them. Yet, they did not know her. Not one of them ever looked at her window. No one waved at her as she watched them. No one noticed as she sat there day after day, waiting. . .

The little red-haired boy was not supposed to toss the ball near the building. But being a boy, holding a ball, how could he not. The ball rolled under the window ledge where the old woman was watching. The boy ran after it, his mom calling for him to hurry. Searching under the bushes, he found the ball and was preparing to toss it again–when he looked up and saw the old woman staring at him through the window pane. She watched him intently, waiting for what she had wanted all along—acknowledgement that she was part of the life she saw passing daily by her window.

And it came from a little freckle-faced, red-haired boy with a ball. He met her gaze and smiled–not a little boyish grin, but a big, broad smile—focused directly at her. She caught the smile in her eyes, holding it there, smiling back, as he ran toward his mother who reached for his open hand- which was not immediately given. Instead, turning back to the woman in the window, who was still watching him, he waved. And she lifted a waiting hand to wave back.

Others in the walkway had observed the little boy chasing after the ball. Following the scene being played out, they now saw the old woman in the window. They could not pass by again without remembering that she was there, watching and waiting. Would they smile? Would they wave? Or would they continue to pass on by as they had always done before?

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34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ”

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ ”(Matthew 25:34-40)

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Hear the silence that speaks behind windows or open doors. See the waiting and watching of those in need.  Respond with action, for whatever we do for one of these, we do for Christ.

(Sharon G. Tate 11/27/16 blog) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

Two Mites: Submission. Sacrifice. Trust. Faith.

 god-is-all-you-have-then-have-all-you-need

41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.43 Calling his disciples to Him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44

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    Are you there in your mind, picturing this scene, watching it play out,

possibly like this?

A poor widow enters the crowd, remaining alone.  Her garments clean but faded, restitched and resewn.   Head bowed and back bent, moving slowly through the crowd.  Separate from those with heads proudly raised, arrayed in the finest apparel.  Leaning on a walking stick, looking to the ground, carefully watching her steps, she approaches the temple treasury.

Without display, she holds two coins in her calloused, wrinkled hands.  Not holding back, not gripping tightly with difficult release, but freely letting go of all she has to give. She places the coins in the temple treasury, a decision made before this moment, a commitment of faith. It is all she has, a few cents to offer. Head bowed, she moves slowly away, drifting through the crowds, leaving as she came, alone.

Someone else is watching. His eyes see all. The Teacher instructs His students: Out of poverty- the point we all enter His presence. The wealth we think we leave in the treasury-never ours. The faith to place everything we have in His hands-to freely give.  A remonstrance to those who proudly give of “their wealth”– while allowing a widow to depart alone to a life of hardship. Did they understand?

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 Where are we in this scene? Are we among the proud givers?  Are we hidden in the crowd, merely bystanders, giving nothing to the treasury or the widow?  Are we near the disciples, whom Jesus must call to Him? Or are we close to Jesus, watching what He sees and hearing what He hears?  Are we listening to His Words? Do we understand?

 Two mites, coins with very low value.

The poor widow of low social status.

Submission.   Sacrifice.   Trust.   Faith.

A simple story of profound significance.

Would we watch her walk away?

Could we give the two mites so freely-

 If this was all we had?

(Sharon G. Tate blog 11/06/16)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

Seeking the Lord’s Direction

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In their hearts humans plan their course,  but the Lord establishes their steps.      Proverbs 16:9

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Assignment: IF you could have three wishes, what would they be?

Answer: To never be born. To never be born. To never be born.

This wasn’t the response I ever expected to receive from any of my students. It was a question included within a diagnostic survey, which I used at the very beginning of the course to help me better understand my students and where they were coming from in life to the point they entered my classroom. The girl was a freshman, around age fourteen. To not want life—ever. What prompted her to write this three times for her three wishes?

Reading that response was like a Frank Capra moment with George Bailey on the bridge ready to jump and the angel Clarence showing up, rather clumsily, to save him as George declares he wishes he had never been born. And I was a new teacher—with no wings. Do I jump into this, like Clarence, and take the dive to get involved-or just pass it on to the counselor?

It is a choice we make in our lives with the people we encounter. Involvement or disengagement, empathy or apathy, personal or impersonal–or none? Before the choice is made, we should ask ourselves the wristband question: “What would Jesus do?”

When the Lord saw an opportunity to reach a soul, He engaged: with the Samaritan woman at the well, the crippled beggar at the pool, tax collectors, James and John, lepers, the adulterous woman, a rich young ruler, the Pharisees, religious leaders at the temple as a youth, and more and more throughout His life here on earth. Even when alone, He engaged with God.

We have become a society of lesser engagement. We may have 800+ Facebook friends, but how do we really classify 95% of the encounters on a scale of true involvement? We even have a growing constituency called “None” in this country who are not particularly associated with any religious group and may not even believe in God.

If we are here, God has a purpose for each and every one of us:

Acts 26:15-18. God’s purpose for the Apostle Paul: 15 “And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen Me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles—to whom I send you 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ ”

John 15:16 –“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.”

Purposeful engagement. It is what the Lord modeled for us-and what he expects of us. So, yes, I jumped and helped this girl who had no purpose to find one by letting her know I cared, I was praying for her, and I was there for her. I had her for three years in English 9-11 and followed her through her senior year. She got through school. She endured more struggles regarding the answer to those three wishes, but the last time I saw her, she was pushing a shopping cart with two little children inside, beaming that she was happily married. God had a different plan for her than those three wishes she wrote down that day.

  In their hearts humans plan their course,  but the Lord establishes their steps.      Proverbs 16:9

And we may be the ones God uses to encourage those moves with our purposeful engagement in others’ lives.

(Sharon G. Tate 10/09/16 blog) teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

One Moment With Jesus

walking-with-jesus

Time: One-on-One, Face-to-Face.  One Moment with Jesus

 The disciples sitting at His feet

A woman with a disease for 12 years

The ten men with leprosy

Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night

Paul blinded on the road to Damascus

How did they change after time spent with Jesus?

 Time was a gift Jesus gave to others. Even though He was tired from His return journey to Galilee from Judea, and was sitting down at Jacob’s well to rest, He took time to make a difference in the life of one Samaritan woman who came to the well. He asked her to give Him a drink from this well. He was about to give her living water. He told her things about her past and present that no stranger would know. She thought He was a prophet. She told Him she knew a Messiah was coming who would explain everything. (John 4:25). “Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you—I am He.’ ” (John 4:26)

 Did she change after time spent with Jesus?

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. (John 4:28-29)

 39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”(John 4:39-42).

One moment, ripples extending from one woman to many men, women, and children of that time to even you and me in our time and beyond us through all time. All it took was a little time spent, one- on -one, face- to- face. Are we extending the ripple?

      Time: One- on -One, Face- to- face. What difference can we make? Where will the ripple enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, magnify, mount, multiply, proliferate, rise, run up, snowball, soar, swell, upsurge. . . 

Time: One- on -One, Face- to- face.  What difference can we make?

 (Sharon G. Tate 09/11/16) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

SELFLESSNESS: Christ Living in me

Selflessness mind of Jesus 

           5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:               6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8)

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SELFISHNESS: All about me and what or whom I want living in me

 ME-tooism: the adopting of policies or practices similar or identical to those of a peer or competitor; the practice of imitating other people’s work or ideas.1

 Have we become a society of “ME TOO?”

Pokemon Go: ME TOO. #Hashtag whatever: ME TOO. What you feel is what is real: ME TOO.

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 –Jesus forgives the adulteress for her transgressions, telling her, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” 1 Me too? –or do I not forgive and remember others’ sins instead?

–Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. Me too?—or do I feel such an act is beneath me?

–Jesus takes time alone to pray to His Father.  Me too?—or am I too busy…doing?

–Jesus does not submit to Satan’s temptations. Me too?–or am I too weak in the Word to hold true?

–Jesus obeys His Father, saying, “Not my will, but thine, be done.”3 Me too? –or is it My will over Thine?

–Jesus suffered as the innocent victim, with no retaliation against His oppressors, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” 4 Me too?—or am I feeling wronged and angry, wanting to lash out?

–Jesus accepted the cross, sacrificing His life for others. Me too?–or is such a sacrifice too great to even consider?

–Jesus arose from the dead to live with His Father in heaven.  Me too???

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We are called to have the “same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5)— and not the mindset of friends, peers, celebrities, sports stars, or any other but Him. Jesus is the only One to follow. He is the only One who is real.

That very reality of Thomas touching the nail holes in the hands of our Lord and our Savior puts us in touch with His forgiving, loving, sacrificing mindset and spirit. And we think, “If only that was me too with the mindset and spirit of Christ.”

From Selfishness to Selflessness

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

(Sharon G. Tate blog 08/21/16) teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

1http://www.thefreedictionary.com

2John 8:11

3Luke 22:41

4Luke 23:34

TeacherStudent

God’s Mercy and Grace to Sinners—You and Me

 

Grace amazing

21-23 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. 24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?

25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. (Romans 7:21-25 The Message)

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Is there not a sort of blood shed when the conscience is wounded? 1

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The Apostle Paul clearly states the Christian’s dilemma: We love God and His Word, yet we sin against God and His Word. When we do sin, our conscience should be “wounded” and we may have “a sort of blood shed” inside of us, knowing that we have betrayed our beliefs and, in the process, also hurt our Lord and Savior by our actions and thoughts.  But it is not the shedding of a single drop of our “blood” that can save us. The only saving grace for our weakness in sinning is Jesus Christ, who took our sins upon Himself and shed His own blood that we might live.  He taught us how to overcome sin through His life on earth, and He saved us through His sacrifice on the cross.

21-25This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.  He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss.

They called Him every name in the book and He said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls. (1 Peter 2:24-25 The Message)

Jesus is our Shepherd, a refuge from outside dangers. But we have to draw near to Him in order to receive this protection. When we stray outside His fold, we confront temptations to sin. It is through God’s grace and mercy that we can return again and again to His opening arms, in spite of our sins, for they are covered by the blood of Christ. Yet, we must feel the wound in our conscience to approach Him. We have sinned before the Lord. This conscience, embedded within us by God in creation, should bring us to our knees in penitence. It is, then, that the Lord can draw us back to Him—though He waits for us to come long before this repentance occurs.  This wound, festering inside us from sins we commit, must hurt and bleed, so that we need to ask forgiveness and seek healing through the salve of His mercy and grace.

 God’s Mercy and Grace for You and Me, Sinners.

Thank you, Lord.

1Thoreau, Henry David. Civil Disobedience – Part 2 of 3.  http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil2

(Sharon G. Tate blog 08/07/16) teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

Brother to Brother, Sister to Sister, Brother to Sister-Together in the Lord

Cast worries on Jesus

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (I Peter 5:6-7)

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It’s raining out. The window panes are splattered with drops streaming down the glass. Reaching out to feel the flow, wiping away the moisture smearing the view, the rain on the other side cannot be touched, cannot empathize.

Alone: It’s raining out. The panes are blurred, obscuring vision. Reaching out to touch the flow, wiping away the moisture smearing the view, the rain on the inside seeps through, tears streaming over reddened eyes.

With God’s family: It’s pouring out. The rain flows from eye to eye, in empathetic tears, one to another, sorrow shrouded in an outpour of love. Brother to brother, sister to sister, brother to sister, mingling hearts, sharing teardrops in the embrace.

Jesus in our midst: It’s shining out. The Son wipes away the moisture smearing the view, soothing the flow, offering hope, giving relief as He enters the embrace. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Together in the Lord: It’s raining out. Eyes moist with tears that cleanse and clear the view to the Son who lights the way. Following when we don’t fully understand the journey, down a path only He knows. Sharing it together– brother to brother, sister to sister, brother to sister.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

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It’s shining out, behind the clouds, through the rain. Though our burdens seem great, they are never too much for the Lord. His Light– breaking through the darkest day and the blackest night, the deepest fear and the loneliest heartache—touches the hurting, with empathy and love.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

(Sharon G. Tate blog 06/26/16) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

Walking as He Walked

FOLLOW+JESUS footprints

 “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”

(I John 2:6)

Shoe prints, extra-large, sinking in the sand, moving ahead.  Shoe prints, extra-small, awkwardly  following, lagging behind.  Extra-small stepping inside extra-large, fully encompassed by the mold. Extra-large stopping to allow extra- small more time to follow in the footsteps, in the path ahead.

Shoe prints, extra -large, next to shoe prints, extra-large. Walking together. Old impressions, lingering beneath the sand.  Sifting memories, little time left.

Shoe prints, extra- large, imprinted in the sand, moving ahead.  Shoe prints, extra- small, awkwardly walking, falling behind.  Extra -small trying to step inside extra -large, engulfed by the mold. Extra- large stopping to allow extra- small more time to follow in the footsteps, in the path ahead.

footprints following dad

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“My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” 1

What will the child see as he watches the father? Where will the footprints take the child who follows the father’s path?  The little one who looks down, imagining when he can wear those extra-large shoes, trying them on for size by placing his own extra-small feet inside them, trusts that the father will lead him in the right direction. The path he follows, from his father’s example, will be the path he will show his own child. Footprints in time. Shifting sands. Impressions remain.

“One night a father overheard his son pray: ‘Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is.’Later that night, the Father prayed, ‘Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be.’” 2

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Footprints, sinking deeper, weighted down.  Carrying the burden, ‘til lifted up.  Fulfilling the Father’s plan.  Walking the walk to the cross.

And the fathers pray, “Dear God, help us follow in His footprints. Make us the kind of men who walk with the Son to fulfill the plan of the Father. Help us teach and show our children where the footprints lead—to the path of service, sacrifice, and salvation. May our walk be Your walk.  Amen.”

1Clarence Budington Kelland, U.S. Writer. brainyquotes.com

2Anonymous. www.quotes.thinkexist.com

(Sharon G. Tate blog 06/19/16) teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

LIVING THE COMMAND: LOVING ONE ANOTHER

love one another crosses

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.              

(John 13:34-35)

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The man strolled slowly down the river walkway. An older woman with the letter A on her coat approached him, hurriedly passing by, looking slightly confused and fearful. He wondered if he should follow her, but then heard a younger woman, wearing the letter D, calling out to her–“Mother!”

The man continued on his walk, encountering many people with different letters stitched, embroidered, painted, or embossed on their jackets. There was the young boy with the letter T, jerking his head in uncontrolled movements; the young girl with the letters DS, laughing spontaneously with eyes unfocused, one drooping down; the teenager with the letters OA, nervously pacing, sweating, wringing his hands, a glazed look in his eyes; the elderly grandmother with the letters RA, stooped, gripping a cane with gnarled fingers, using the other hand to hold onto a small child with no hair who wore the letter C. And many others, all the letters of the alphabet, until he reached his apartment door, unlocking it to face the hallway mirror and his own letters—HD. His breathing was somewhat labored from his walk, so he sat down in his recliner to rest. Then, he prayed for A, D, T, DS, OA, RA, C, and all the other letters he encountered on today’s journey.

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**What if our suffering was literally “worn on our sleeve” for all to see? No longer hidden, no invisible diseases, no one hiding behind “I’m fine.” The alphabet we would all know on sight would include A for Alzheimer’s, D for diabetes, T for Tourette’s, DS for Down’s Syndrome, OA for Opioid Addiction, RA for Rheumatoid Arthritis, C for Cancer, HD for Heart Disease, and more and more. . .

If we could see more visibly the problems others face, would we be more understanding? Would we have greater empathy? Would we see that maybe our own problems are much less when compared with those around us? Would we have more joy? Would we pray more often for others?

The eyes of God see all the letters of this “alphabet” of disease and suffering, spread across the entire human race. His omniscience allows Him a depth of vision to our heart, our soul, and our very being. He knows what we are going through, individually and personally, and He sees what we may try to hide before others and even ourselves.

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:12-13).

Maybe if we weren’t so concerned with what others would think about us if they knew our “letters,” there would be an openness and acceptance toward each other that could give us all a glimpse of heaven on this earth.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

LIVING THE COMMAND: LOVING ONE ANOTHER

(Sharon G. Tate blog 06/05/16)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word