Today, I did nothing!

Today, I had opportunities to consider how I respond to different situations. I noticed that I have a choice in how I respond. How we respond matters.

Today I have had an opportunity to be cross-cultural, extend grace and grow in patience. Not bad for a day's work  (especially for someone who doesn't actually work!). In fact, I still have a job to do, and part of that is to consider how I relate to others.

It's in the simple matters that it counts as well as in the grand gestures. 

So, what happened today?

Well, nothing of great significance!

I just noticed the choices I had to respond to people. First thing was, I was at the till, no-one else in front of me, so, subconsciously, I was thinking; 'excellent, I'll be out in two minutes'.

This however wasn't the case. Some of the items didn't want to go through the till at the right price. Not just one item but at least two out of the five items I bought. Slightly irritating. This then of course takes time, the cashier didn't know what to do, and after a few attempts called over the supervisor. They then had to void the whole transaction and start over again. Even resorting to mental arithmetic to work out how much I had to pay. Little bit more irritating!

I realised then I had a choice. I could tut, tap my foot, give expressions of annoyance, demand better service, even complain about the poor service or capabilities of the staff. Maybe even wangle a discount.

But, where would that get me? Or them? 

All in all, instead of the two minute service I was expecting, it probably only took another couple of minutes. 

At the end of the day, what impression did I want to leave these people with? In all our dealings we get to leave others with something. Do we leave them feeling better, worse, or just the same? 

So, in this situation, I did nothing. I stayed calm, spoke kindly, even had a laugh with the staff. I did nothing but as I left I was actually thanked for my patience.

But what had I actually done? I was actually just thanked for doing nothing!

The second situation was this, I'd just gone out the front door, and there right in front of our house and right in front of my eyes someone reversed into our car!

So, what do you do? 

In some people's eyes I had every right to rant and rave, jump up and down, shout and swear. 

I didn't. I did nothing.

I again had a chance to think about my response. I waited for the driver to get out, inspected our car which didn't seem to have too much wrong with it (thank God). The guy was incredibly apologetic. I could of called him names, told him he was an idiot, or whatever, but where would that get me? Or him? 

Instead, he apologised. I listened. We swapped details. It took about five minutes out of my day. If I'd responded differently it would of probably taken a bit longer! 

Both of these situations took a total of 10minutes maximum. I know, it is annoying when these things happen, frustrating and at times inconvenient and more time consuming. But, what did it cost me? A bit of extra time perhaps, but not as much as if I'd chosen to get riled up.

The truth is, everyone makes mistakes. If I was the person in these people's situations, I would already feel ashamed, embarrassed and a bit of an idiot. They don't need me to tell them they've made a mistake, or not done something well. 

They may of made mistakes, but then so have I. 

I know I have accidentally reversed into someone's car and I felt like a prize fool! Embarrassed and regretful for what I'd done. That person was gracious. I still remember how kind and honest they were with me and I tried to be the same. Hopefully I succeeded.

In reality, I did nothing, In fact, these episodes can probably be summarised by what I HADN'T done! 

I ignored the response that often so easily comes, and dealt with the person as I would like to be treated in that same situation. 

Afterwards I was reminded of this:

'Treat others as you want to be treated' 

Luke 6:31

Hopefully I managed this today. 

There were no grand gestures, just small everyday decisions. Next time you're faced with a situation where things might not be going your way, and in fact may get in the way of your day, consider how you'd like someone else to respond and see how things go as a result, maybe you'll notice a difference and maybe you'll feel different. 

What's the Word?

John 1:1-3

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

This set of verses have confused me somewhat for years. I've read them a few times and never paid much attention because I couldn't make head nor tail of them. So today, I'm on a journey of investigation. What do these verses mean? Feel free to read on and take the journey with me, hopefully it won't leave you more confused! 

'In the beginning was the Word'. 

This section of scripture refers back to Genesis and the creation of all things. What was there? 'The Word'. The word, the pronunciation of thought, idea, feelings. The outpouring of the heart and mind. The verbal expression of something that needs communication.

'the Word was with God'. So, the word must be a living being. In order for it to be 'with' God. You wouldn't say, "I was with the bus" or "the lamppost was with me". We may say though, "I was with an elephant" of " my Grandmother was with me". You cannot be 'with' something unless it's a living thing, so 'the Word' is a living being. It exists, has life and breath and can be in companionship (if you're with something then you have some kind of relationship). The fact that, 'the Word was with God' indicates that the 'Word' and 'God' are separate entities. They are close in relationship, but they are distinct in themselves. If the Word was the same being as God, it could not be 'with' him. I cannot be with myself. 

Also, each time 'the Word' is mentioned, 'Word' has a capital letter. This indicates that it is a proper noun, therefore has to be the name of a person, place or thing. It's clearly not a place or thing (object) as you wouldn't be 'with' those things. Therefore the logical conclusion is that, 'the Word' is indeed a person. A person connected closely with God.

Then, who is this person? 

'the Word was God'. Haven't we just ascertained that the Word is not in fact the same being as God? but here it is saying that the Word IS God. Now that's just confusing! How can something not be something, but then be it at the same time? I wonder if it's a bit like our families? I am a part of my mother and father, but I am not them. I am, in some respects as I have their DNA, but physically I am a different entity. I am a unique being in my own right, although I bear characteristics of my parents. 

'He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.'

'He' - the Word is a male then, and he was present at the start of the universe. In fact, it was God's spoken word that brought things into being. If we look at the account in Genesis, again and again it pronounces, 'God said'. The spoken word is what created the heavens and the earth. It is what brought sun, planets, trees, all of nature and you and I into being. What God spoke, happened. The Word has power and authority from God, because it comes from God. It has a purpose, a job to fulfill. It carries the message God has given. The Word is the message from God for the world. 

So, in conclusion. The Word is in close proximity with God, in relationship with Him, it is a living being. The word has been around since the beginning of time and created all the things we see (and don't see). The Word is not God, but is at the same time. The Word carries a message from God. So, do you see what the Word is? 

There is only one that it can be. The one who since the creation of the world has been carrying God's message, The Word then, is Jesus.

What are you slave to?

Romans 6:19-23

19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 

20 For when you were  slaves of sin,you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Once upon a time, we all did things wrong.

Wait..... don't we still do things wrong?! 

The difference is, now we KNOW they are wrong, yet we still do them. If you think about it, doing something wrong usually ends up in a spiral. That's what Paul is talking about when he writes, 'lawlessness leading to more lawlessness,'. When we do or say something wrong it usually ends up with us doing something else wrong to cover up the first thing, and so on, then before you know it you're in a right old mess. 

This is the situation we get trapped in. 

That is until we, 'present (y)our members as slaves to righteousness'. When we do that, the text says this leads to sanctification. So, what is that? Sanctification is; to purify or make holy. To be restored to our original condition. This starts to happen when we begin discover who Jesus is. 

I like Paul's reasoning for making a decision about what we are slave to - look at the results of being, 'slaves of sin,' - Shame, and death. The results of being, 'slaves of God,'? Purity, holiness and eternal life. I know which prize I'd prefer!

Although both choices include slavery, they both have freedom within them. Paul says that those slave to sin are 'free in regard to righteousness'. Righteous behaviour is not expected of them, but the wages of that is death. Being a slave to God means you are free from sin with the result of eternal life. 

So, we do have a choice. We have a choice of freedom and slavery. Whatever decision we make we will be slave to it, but within that will be a certain amount of freedom.

Once Jesus has been revealed, you HAVE to make a life choice. It's one or the other. 

To carry on as you're going, or accept Jesus and change your life. 

Paul is the guy that wrote this passage and he is talking as a person who has changed his life, quite dramatically. He was originally one who berated, persecuted and killed the, 'slaves of God,' now, he is one. He has chosen to become one of the, 'slaves of God,' instead of one of the, 'slaves to impurity'. Once Paul recognised who Jesus really is, it caused the whole trajectory of his life to change. Are you ready for that kind of life change? 

What are you going to choose to be slave to?

Questions to consider:

What do you want to be slave to? 

What do you want to be free from?

What result do you want to get?