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Tuesday, November 21, 2006

The three stooges

When I was a kid, I loved to watch the "Three stooges." Their sense of physical comedy really appealed to me.

Sometimes when I read about Peter, James and John, I think of Larry, Moe and Curly. I mean, these guys, until they were transformed by Jesus were full of hijinks and mischief.

Peter was brash, proud and outgoing. At one point he denied the Lord, and another point he even rebuked Jesus (oh, by the way, did I mention that Jesus was the Son of God?)

James and John were known as the "Sons of thunder." Now usually when you get a nickname it's for a reason. At one point they came across a village that didn't want to accept them or help them, and J and J wanted to call down a "rain of fire" upon the village and destroy them.

Jesus basically said, whoa now....slow down a little bit here.

You see, perhaps Peter and J and J were not so close to Jesus because of their personalities or friendship with Jesus, but because they required more attention. Like the student who is "asked" to sit by the teacher in class.

Sometime we have friendships, not for what we can get out of them, but for what we can give. Some friendships are there to coach, to mentor, to disciple, to help people grow in God.

Let me ask you this: who are you reaching out to this day - so that they might draw closer to Christ?

Just a thought....

Oh, and by the way, because of the attention of Jesus? Peter died for God and help found The Church. John became the apostle of love. James the pastor in Jerusalem. Wow......

1 comment:

Jon said...

Oh, now I know why I am so close! LOL. YouthExtreme too, I guess! Jesus took His twelve and they, following His teachings, changed the world.

Mentoring, coaching, teaching, helping...all wraps up in discipling others. Somewhere along the way, we have narrow discipling down to a mature Christian leading an newer Christian down the scriptural path. But Jesus discipled His twelve every day, helping them to understand the love of God for His people and the love that His people should have for God. Not just in reading scripture, though Jesus did do that, but in everything that they did. Reaching out to people (how many times did the disciples get told to let people come to Jesus?) and helping them and meeting their needs every day. Discipling!

In our busy lives, it's hard to find the time to get everything done let alone find several hours a week to mentor and teach one (or more) men. But it is in this relationship, one to another, that the greatest gift of God to man is found. Love...pure and simple. If you love your brother (or sister) you will find the time to make their life better and their understanding deeper.

Love someone today. Be a mentor. Or be a mentee...I'm not sure that's a word but it'll do...to someone. Learn and love and live.

Love God, love people. Four words that can change the whole world.

Jon