Trying to be like Jesus
We've heard the golden rule. Do unto others as others would do unto you. It's not a bad philosophy to live by. I feel like I've been called to something higher. It's a defining characteristic of my faith.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Matthew 22:39
It's the simplest distillation of the second half of all christian doctrine and gospel. The first half is to love God. Together they compose the higher law in the most basic form.
That means more to me than I often describe. But I felt like I needed to.
Most people who know me are aware that I spent two years of my life as missionary for my church. I spent two years with a name on a tag on a pocket of a white shirt. That name was Jesus Christ. That's a name that means more to me than I know how to express but I'm going to try. It's an indivisible aspect of me now.
He was perfect. In every way. Literally. Lived the perfect life. Taught the perfect teachings. Lived the life we all should emulate. A task I more often fail than succeed at. But it's about time I was honest about my goals in life.
Earlier this week I wrote about how pacifism and violence are both tools to be wielded as necessary and proper depending on the task at hand. Some laughed. I guess I should be used to that by now. But it stung. Because the man who told us to turn the other cheek, he also overturned the money changers tables. He had power, yet went like the lamb to the slaughter. He was humble and able. Of both pacifism and violence. That's what stung me in the mocking earlier. That my goal to follow Christ in his footsteps was a punchline. I need to try not to dwell on that. I need to focus elsewhere.
His perfect love made possible my life. The changes in character I wished to make. His mercy provides the only true outlet to long lasting change. That's the power of his sacrifice, his atonement for us and our sins. Most people are knowledgeable of Christ's redemption of our sins, or at least peoples belief in that. Because of that foundation I don't see the need to belabor the wonder of repentance. Instead I wish to turn to what else the Atonement offers.
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
Alma 7: 11-12
He gave that to everyone. Then asked us to do the same.
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."
Matthew 25:35-36
The higher law is a divine commission. A call for something better, larger, more powerful and beyond ourselves. I want to help people more and better. I need to become more capable at that. To extend the hand of charity, of help without expectation or judgement.
I'm nowhere near that yet. And I've been practicing a long time.
But I have hope. The reason is because I have children. I have a spouse. I love them. In a deeper way than I've loved before. I hope to increase and extend that more.
It's going to have a ripple effect as I dig deeper. As I focus on faith again with a greater conviction. It's already changing how and why I do things. That will just increase. It has too. When I look back at what has been the hardest things I've done in my life, I look at parenting, I look at my time in the military, and I look at my mission. All have been difficult. But worth it. At times following and acting on my faith has been the hardest. Knowing that at this point in my life is strange. I thought when I was younger I would run from hard things. Now I'm turning to them. Hopefully it means I'm one step closer to my Savior, to him, humble and able as he may be.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Matthew 22:39
It's the simplest distillation of the second half of all christian doctrine and gospel. The first half is to love God. Together they compose the higher law in the most basic form.
That means more to me than I often describe. But I felt like I needed to.
Most people who know me are aware that I spent two years of my life as missionary for my church. I spent two years with a name on a tag on a pocket of a white shirt. That name was Jesus Christ. That's a name that means more to me than I know how to express but I'm going to try. It's an indivisible aspect of me now.
He was perfect. In every way. Literally. Lived the perfect life. Taught the perfect teachings. Lived the life we all should emulate. A task I more often fail than succeed at. But it's about time I was honest about my goals in life.
Earlier this week I wrote about how pacifism and violence are both tools to be wielded as necessary and proper depending on the task at hand. Some laughed. I guess I should be used to that by now. But it stung. Because the man who told us to turn the other cheek, he also overturned the money changers tables. He had power, yet went like the lamb to the slaughter. He was humble and able. Of both pacifism and violence. That's what stung me in the mocking earlier. That my goal to follow Christ in his footsteps was a punchline. I need to try not to dwell on that. I need to focus elsewhere.
His perfect love made possible my life. The changes in character I wished to make. His mercy provides the only true outlet to long lasting change. That's the power of his sacrifice, his atonement for us and our sins. Most people are knowledgeable of Christ's redemption of our sins, or at least peoples belief in that. Because of that foundation I don't see the need to belabor the wonder of repentance. Instead I wish to turn to what else the Atonement offers.
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
Alma 7: 11-12
He gave that to everyone. Then asked us to do the same.
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."
Matthew 25:35-36
The higher law is a divine commission. A call for something better, larger, more powerful and beyond ourselves. I want to help people more and better. I need to become more capable at that. To extend the hand of charity, of help without expectation or judgement.
I'm nowhere near that yet. And I've been practicing a long time.
But I have hope. The reason is because I have children. I have a spouse. I love them. In a deeper way than I've loved before. I hope to increase and extend that more.
It's going to have a ripple effect as I dig deeper. As I focus on faith again with a greater conviction. It's already changing how and why I do things. That will just increase. It has too. When I look back at what has been the hardest things I've done in my life, I look at parenting, I look at my time in the military, and I look at my mission. All have been difficult. But worth it. At times following and acting on my faith has been the hardest. Knowing that at this point in my life is strange. I thought when I was younger I would run from hard things. Now I'm turning to them. Hopefully it means I'm one step closer to my Savior, to him, humble and able as he may be.
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