The people who lived in camps near the LABORATORY were forcibly moved to the FISHERY. Little was left behind but their signs [see one above].
I wonder if they have found peace or hope in their new place, or if they are still in need of Disciples to fish them out of death…
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matt 25:34-36)
Clue: Jesus thanks those who offered a cup of cold water to the thirsty, clothes to the naked, visitation to the imprisoned, welcoming to the Foreign, food to the hungry.
Clue: The way we treat the least of us is how we treat him (Matt 25:40).
Clue: And we are called to love our neighbours as ourselves [see below].
What does this tell me?
We look to Maslow’s pyramid for inspiration of our needs. What we want to ask God for, (He already knows) but we should also remember that everyone has these needs. Following J’s logic, if we love ourselves enough to eat when hungry, then we should love others enough to feed them when THEY are hungry. At least we can understand and forgive them when they lash out from lack of these things.
Every need we pursue and pray for for ourselves, we should in turn do or pray for others. Loving in that way should be an expression of Jesus’ love language.
But what about when we don’t love ourselves or care about our needs?
God wants good things for us, but what about when we don’t think we deserve it? When we reject the gift because we believe that we don’t deserve his love, nor to have our needs or wants fulfilled.
Then that sounds like we hate ourselves and we aren’t seeing/hearing God. That way of thinking is aligned with the enemy’s way. That spirit that hates us and doesn’t think we deserve God’s love and mercy, and by extension, everything we want and need on that pyramid. And as we starve ourselves, we starve others and Jesus.
As Dr. Charles Stanley said in the video linked here, titled “Taking Control of Our Thoughts”, we must ask ourselves what sort of direction our thoughts are taking us. The saying goes something like: Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit, etc., until reaping a destiny.
To think hateful thoughts about yourself, the world, other people… is the beginning of allowing the BAD prophecy to come to pass. FORGIVE and LOVE OTHERS + YOURSELF.
A good thought that would be sowing towards GOD’S WILL would be like…
Lord, I know I’m not perfect. But thank you for loving me anyway. Thank you for XYZ needs and wants you have allowed for me. Although I don’t deserve it I do see and appreciate your goodness and mercy. I pray only for the strength and wisdom to keep seeing you and to follow YOUR WILL.
Other Topics:
The Cure is Discipleship:
Lukewarm (or downright wicked) Hypocrites
(unedited) Full reading (w/ commentary)
Seizing the Sword
How do you die to your flesh? And what can be done to “Stay Ready?”
OgressHeroine 