Perspectives on Life

One thing this week has shown me while sitting at a hospital for four days and not being a patient but being patient is another perspective on life. I love to watch people or better said notice their expressions, mannerisms and such and try to reflect on what is going on in the world. We have had a wide array of people administering some type of care to the real patient. Some are real and have such a heart and some, you can tell, is there because they have to. Have you ever done something you were supposed to be passionate about or something that other people would like for you to be real and passionate about but just couldn’t get there? If you have ever worked for anyone and not been passionate about it then you have been there.

Jesus wasn’t like that. He came to earth for a mission and always, always had passion. The movie the Passion of Christ reflected only a small percentage of that passion and truly the movie title really wasn’t titled with the same passion that I am speaking of. Think with me or maybe even open your Bible and read. Do you think Jesus was passionate when He cleansed the temple? Do you think Jesus was passionate when He healed blind eyes and deaf ears? Do you think Jesus was passionate when He prayed for us in the Upper Room?

Jesus was passionate in everything thing He did for many reasons. First, He wanted to please His Heavenly Father. He made this clear that whatever He done He did because and to please His Father (John 5:19). Second, He understood the mission He was to complete. Jesus didn’t just do day by day He had a plan to finish and finish He did very well (John 19:30). Thirdly, Jesus saw the big picture. His focus not only was to complete the mission, He understood and kept the mission in His perspective at all times. The high times when He saw people receive His grace and then worship or bless Him and the times when almost everyone wanted to kill Him. Fourth, He did everything through the perspective of love. Jesus loved people (Mk. 10:21) and He showed that love and He focused on that love. In other words Jesus was real in His love.

So what does people see when they see you? Do they see a smiling face, a heart of love or something much more superficial? Jesus’ perspective on life made Jesus different; maybe that is what made some people not like Him. It may even make people around you different but it’s worth it especially if Jesus is the example. I want to be like Jesus. I want people to see that I’m different. I want people to see that I’m real. What about you?

Lord Jesus, help us to be more like You. Amen.