Last weekend I was blessed to be able to share with a group of teenagers what the ‘hope’ of the resurrection means to me. The strange part about that conversation was that for the longest time I was really confused when I heard people talk about the “hope”, and thanking God for the hope. I was able to share with them how it was not until I was into my thirties that that little word really started to make sense! Well, that got me to thinking, as we like to say in the hollers, and I readily recalled a few other times when I had light bulbs go off. The most recent of those was a few years ago when I stumbled over these tried and true words from the brother of the Christ – James
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3 NIIV
Seriously? This was a time in my life when I really didn’t like some people, and it scared me to death to think about those words. I mean I love you God, but I have to love your people?? Seriously? It’s stuff like this that make me want to tear James out of my Bible and act like it doesn’t exist.
But, YES, that’s a huge part of it, and that realization has continued to push me further down the transformation path.
So on this Friday, remember those words, and think about how you think about His creation! And lets start loving the things he loves – people!