Reason #752
Day one of our Valentine's/President's Day trip was a success. After sleeping in late, I had the best burger I've ever eaten for lunch, and then enjoyed a stroll through the George W. Bush Presidential Library. I tell you what, you can't leave that place and not feel proud to be an American and a Texan. I learned a lot about W, and I have to say I think even more of him now than I did when he was president. The truth is, the presidency isn't an easy job for anyone. No president ever has done or will do everything right, but what impressed me the most about George was learning more about his character and values. And, if you ask me, the true sign of a great leader is that they maintain upstanding character the entire time.
Throughout the entire library, it was apparent that he is a follower of Jesus Christ. For one, he said it multiple times, but more than simply saying it, he showed it. Because he cared about people. He cared about helping them. He cared about getting their lives back on track. He loved his family and was devoted to them. And, he cared about being a man of his word. Maybe he didn't always do everything right. Maybe he made a wrong decision here and there. But he stood by what he said, always being true to do what he thought was best, and I left the library feeling very grateful for servants like him.
I don't think it's easy to live a life for Christ when living in the spotlight. I didn't say it's not possible, but I don't think it's easy. After all, look at Hollywood. I can name a handful of young people who either started out singing in church, or who have professed their love for the Lord, and yet their lives have been a downward spiral. Is it the power, the fame, the money, the attention? Who knows. But what I do know is that people prefer to see failure. They prefer to see celebrities end up in rehab or in the courtrooms because then a reality show can be made and we can all watch the train wreck from the magazine stands in the grocery story. Yet find someone of upstanding character. Find someone who is devoted to the Lord, and devoted to serving people in His name, and society isn't supportive of that. Find someone who is really trying to make their lives and the lives of those around them better by sharing God's grace and forgiveness, and the world throws a huge fit about it. Yet, we can throw countless dollars in the name of "love" towards the same efforts, dollars that will do no help when the disease continues to debilitate, the addiction still cripples, and hunger remains, and we think that is the only way to make life better.
Well, Jesus came to serve and meet needs. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, raised the dead, and refreshed the thirsty. Jesus came to set the example and be the example. And it wasn't easy. Because Jesus was tempted to take the world's way out. He was tempted with option of having power and authority. He was tempted to think selfishly and to further himself. And don't think for a second that those things weren't, well, tempting. Because Jesus was human. Let's face it, those things sound appealing to all of us. We've all been tempted to serve ourselves before serving anyone else. But Jesus did it. Being in the spotlight, being popular and well known, He maintained His character. He kept His word. Not for a moment did Jesus compromise who He was so He could have a little taste of the world or receive it's approval. Everyday of His life, no matter what He was doing, Jesus maintained His integrity and character because through it all, He was serving the Lord.
I'll never be president. I am, however, still thinking I might could obtain the office of First Lady. Anyway, I'll never be in charge of leading a nation or even the masses. But president or not, that's not what the Lord is concerned with. Because He sets our feet on the path He has for each one of us, and it's our job to lead in whatever way He has called us to lead. If it is to lead your family, your co-workers, your friends, your neighbors, you're called to lead them well. No matter what role God has given you, He's trusting you with the responsibility to carry it out fully and completely. Sure, you'll make mistakes along the way. Some decisions will be better than others, some easier than others. But if we maintain our character, if we continue to serve the Lord as we serve others, if we stand by our word and practice integrity, I have to believe that the Lord will be most pleased with the job we've done.
#752 - Because He chose to serve us over serving himself.
"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God." - 1 John 3:16-19
Throughout the entire library, it was apparent that he is a follower of Jesus Christ. For one, he said it multiple times, but more than simply saying it, he showed it. Because he cared about people. He cared about helping them. He cared about getting their lives back on track. He loved his family and was devoted to them. And, he cared about being a man of his word. Maybe he didn't always do everything right. Maybe he made a wrong decision here and there. But he stood by what he said, always being true to do what he thought was best, and I left the library feeling very grateful for servants like him.
I don't think it's easy to live a life for Christ when living in the spotlight. I didn't say it's not possible, but I don't think it's easy. After all, look at Hollywood. I can name a handful of young people who either started out singing in church, or who have professed their love for the Lord, and yet their lives have been a downward spiral. Is it the power, the fame, the money, the attention? Who knows. But what I do know is that people prefer to see failure. They prefer to see celebrities end up in rehab or in the courtrooms because then a reality show can be made and we can all watch the train wreck from the magazine stands in the grocery story. Yet find someone of upstanding character. Find someone who is devoted to the Lord, and devoted to serving people in His name, and society isn't supportive of that. Find someone who is really trying to make their lives and the lives of those around them better by sharing God's grace and forgiveness, and the world throws a huge fit about it. Yet, we can throw countless dollars in the name of "love" towards the same efforts, dollars that will do no help when the disease continues to debilitate, the addiction still cripples, and hunger remains, and we think that is the only way to make life better.
Well, Jesus came to serve and meet needs. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, raised the dead, and refreshed the thirsty. Jesus came to set the example and be the example. And it wasn't easy. Because Jesus was tempted to take the world's way out. He was tempted with option of having power and authority. He was tempted to think selfishly and to further himself. And don't think for a second that those things weren't, well, tempting. Because Jesus was human. Let's face it, those things sound appealing to all of us. We've all been tempted to serve ourselves before serving anyone else. But Jesus did it. Being in the spotlight, being popular and well known, He maintained His character. He kept His word. Not for a moment did Jesus compromise who He was so He could have a little taste of the world or receive it's approval. Everyday of His life, no matter what He was doing, Jesus maintained His integrity and character because through it all, He was serving the Lord.
I'll never be president. I am, however, still thinking I might could obtain the office of First Lady. Anyway, I'll never be in charge of leading a nation or even the masses. But president or not, that's not what the Lord is concerned with. Because He sets our feet on the path He has for each one of us, and it's our job to lead in whatever way He has called us to lead. If it is to lead your family, your co-workers, your friends, your neighbors, you're called to lead them well. No matter what role God has given you, He's trusting you with the responsibility to carry it out fully and completely. Sure, you'll make mistakes along the way. Some decisions will be better than others, some easier than others. But if we maintain our character, if we continue to serve the Lord as we serve others, if we stand by our word and practice integrity, I have to believe that the Lord will be most pleased with the job we've done.
#752 - Because He chose to serve us over serving himself.
"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God." - 1 John 3:16-19