Other people – mini series

 

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My last blog, I started a little mini series about my prayers for myself based on other people. Encouraging me to forgive other people are God forgives me. As my prayers for myself continue, I set myself a challenge in moving forward.  I pray, “help me to talk about other people as you talk about me.” Forgetting about myself for a moment, The question is, how does God talk about us?

We have to start with Jesus’ words in Matthew chapter 10, Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Then there is the classic from Jeremiah 29 (a classic for a good reason) verse 10,  For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Then amazing imagery from Zephaniah’s prophecy in chapter 3 (of the book Zephaniah, one of the minor prophets of the Old Testament) The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.’

BUT, as great as those verses might be, I want God to be personal to me, what does he say about a person? I am brought, in my thoughts to Job, what does God tell Satan about Job?  (Job chapter 1 verse 8) Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Was Job really sinless? Was he totally blameless and thoroughly upright? No doubt that he was a good man, but he was not perfect. Yet God, when he talks to another about him, there is nothing but pride in his voice.

I pray, help me to talk about other people as you talk about me. God talks about me positively, with pride and nothing but affection. If I am, as a Christian, to live a life that is Christ like, then my aim is to do as Jesus did. This includes how I talk about other people.

How do you talk about other people? is it all positive? 

Just a naughty boy?

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September always follows August. After some twenty plus years of being a youth worker, it always catches me out. Is everything ready for the clubs? The plans might have been made at the beginning of August, but have all the items for the different sessions been brought? The beginning of September can be spent rushing around shops, scrolling on-line sites and hoping shelves are stocked and orders won’t be delayed. Once that panic is over, thoughts soon turn to the children and young people who will be coming through the doors.

Gulp, oh I wonder if ‘that child’ will be gracing us with their presence, I hope not! Just maybe they have moved away… The whole of last year was spent, say “No!”, “Please don’t.” “Stop!” and other unprintable words of hopelessness and despair, over that ‘Naughty boy’.

It is so easy to define someone by one characteristic of them; and why not? The stress caused, the disrupted groups and the constant damage put right, is not worth the effort of seeing that ‘naughty boy’ any other way.

I unfortunately don’t have any quick fix solutions to this dilemma, just (back handed) encouragement from Paul in his letter to the Colossians (chapter 1 verse 21). This is how the message puts it. ‘You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one.’ In considering your relationship with God as one that was once distant, even non-existent. you and this ‘naughty boy’ actually have a lot in common. God stuck with you and won you over, you can, (with help from God) also win this ‘naughty boy’ over too!

To finish with a challenge, look for another characteristic (positive) in this child and work hard to praise them when something goes right. (And don’t forget to pray for them).