ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING

Thank you Father God for relating to me through my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - your Son. I believe beyond the shadow of a doubt, had Christ not come - you would have still known everything and anything about me and my experiences. However, you took your knowledge and care to a whole other level when you loved me by relating to me through Jesus.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." - Hebrews 4:15

Many of us have heard the phrase - Do not judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. This is a plea to empathize or understand the experiences of another before passing a critical comment, generalization or damning statement. One of the things that makes Christ's love and grace for us so Amazing, as the song says, is Jesus loved all of us while we were still in our default setting of rebellion against God OR our sinful nature (Romans 5:8). That default setting is spoken of by John in John 3:18, where he says, 

"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."

Jesus went above and beyond. Not only did He know everything and anything about everybody and everything because He was and is Creator, but now He also sets aside His glory and becomes or cloaks Himself with human flesh.

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!" - Philippians 2:5-8

Notice right away in this passage Paul mentions relationships OR relating - "In your relationships with one another". Our charge is to take on the humility in our relationships just as Christ Jesus did for all of us. He died for me, I'll live for Him. He first loved me and you, remember that. Because He lives I can face tomorrow. And some ways we can face each day and show we live for Him are -

"Love must be sincere.

Hate what is evil;

cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in love.

Honor one another above yourselves.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.

Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:9-21

We think we have problems or have been placed through the "Ringer" of life sometimes. However, Christ Jesus has experienced all that you could ever think or imagine. He has more than just done it AND have the t-shirt as they say. In addition, He now comes alongside us So That we may help others and call on Him in a bond where He relates to Anything And Everything.