w00t w00t, there are Free Pancakes at IHOP today, as it the IHOP Pancake Day! Which is odd because its a week early this year, but anyway, lets get March Madness off to a great start with “free” pancakes from IHOP ALL DAY.
What does that have to do with anything? Well giving and receiving of course. They are giving away a free short stack to each customer, hoping in return that you donate to their charity. Hm, a few sayings come to mind like ‘What goes around comes around’, ‘treat others how you want to be treated” and then this one from Luke:
Yep, it’s a idea that is found is short order these days. The idea that if you give it will be given back to you. It’s definitely something I lose track of a whole lot. We are so apt to take, that we forget the true meaning. And then the best part – for with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. hm.. I think a need a need measure.
As you interact with people today give free pancakes – and see what you get in return.
I am sure you could guess that yesterday’s post was only half a thought, because I don’t think that when Jesus says “sell all” and “give” that he is only referring to material things. I think he is referring to our complete selves. This is the thought that I have been struggling with all week, because its such hard thing to do. Even this morning as I prepare for the work day and recount activities from yesterday, I find myself frustrated about events, when upon closer examination that frustration is more about my point of view or the may I felt I was treated. If I have sold out to the Christ, then my take on that situation is so totally different. Yeah, sure, maybe somethings are not the way they should be, and maybe some people are not being completely open and truthful, but hey, my sold out response will be much kinder, and full of mercy, because I will be focused on what truly matters.
So what I am really taking about. Well, its in found in Philippians 3:8:
8Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ (CEV)
Paul says he considers everything else as garbage! Some translation say rubbish, dung, or worthless. WOW! I read that verse and I say “yeah, but what about my…..”. It’s tough. It’s one of those stumper verses. HOW?
Now you see where my mind has been this week. It’s not really about T-shirts, although that’s a symptom. It’s about knowing Christ and understanding how much better that is then anything else in the world, and then living that way.
You should read the whole of Philippians 3, but take a look at this broader context:
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I am just like Paul, I have not taken hold of this yet, however this thought has captivated my mind. And since I am pretty visual this little mini-movie brings this home as well. Take a moment some time today to view this video:
Ponder this today. What do you own, what do you do, what do you think about that is better the knowing Christ. Can you count it as garbage? Will you help me to?