I have a theory about the way God answers our frequent appeals to be molded into the image of Jesus. The conversation goes something like this:
God: “So you really want to become like my Son?”
Me: “Yes, Lord, you know I do.”
Lord: “You know the Scripture says that although he was a Son, Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered.”
Me: “Yes, but I’ve always had a hard time understanding that verse. I thought Jesus was perfect.”
Lord: “He was perfect… and he was made perfect. (see Heb 5:7-10) You are declared righteous by His completed work and if you’re going to be like Him, you must walk as He did… in reverent submission. You were saved by grace through your faith in Jesus and you are called to live by faith… obeying my Word to you… and depending on my grace.”
Me: “Yes sir.” (Isn’t it great that the God of all Creation is willing to talk so plainly to His children?!)
Over quite a few days, His implied instruction from Matthew 25 was simple: “When I was a stranger, you invited Me in… whatever you did for the least of these my brethren, you did for Me.” Recently, a fellow teacher and I ran across a young lady and her two-year-old boy as we were leaving chapel. If it had been on the way to chapel, I would have had a good excuse to keep walking since I was on my way to an important duty. But this was after chapel, and the excuse of rushing to lunch probably does not impress God quite as much as going to worship. My friend, who had entered into a caring inquiry, had a class, so I hesitantly agreed to help the lady. She had been given some numbers of ministries in our county that serve the needs of the poor, but every call I made was in vain. “No room at the inn,” was getting old. As it was getting dangerously close to the end of my lunch hour, I was trying to figure out what to do. The lady was very humble and I couldn’t find any reason to blame her for her circumstance. Even if she could be blamed, a cute little boy sat in a stroller with big eyes. I asked her the boy’s name and when she replied, “Israel,” I thought, “Oh, brother.”
It is in such times that the voice of the Lord becomes intrusive… making me wonder whether we really want to hear God’s voice or not. For though He constantly tells us He loves us, He also says, “Those who love Me, obey Me.”
Lord: “Are you going to take care of the stranger or not?”
Me: “Well… what do you want me to do?”
Lord: “What do you think I want you to do? I’ve given you a house, haven’t I? I’ve given you food, haven’t I? I’ve loved you and saved you, haven’t I? You’ve said you wanted to be like Jesus… so show her love… not with empty words, but with action.”
My wife, Susan, is a lot more moldable than I am, so when I called and told her the situation, she quickly said she would come pick them up. So for a little over three weeks, Geneva and Israel have lived with us. Her story is one she needs to tell one day (maybe I’ll get her to write the next journey), but for now, we are all receiving God’s blessing. She has a place to stay and we have a little bigger family. Brothers and sisters in Christ have extended love and fellowship. Of course, three-year-old John, who towers over the two-year-old of a different color, has been the best neighbor. He calls him “little brother” (I’m not sure he can pronounce ‘Israel’).
And I’ve reached another theory: Even when I obey… it is by God’s grace and not by my own goodness. He is even in charge of the opportunities… How I need Jesus.
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, ‘He who is coming will come and not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” Hebrews 10:35-39
“Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:1-3