Last man standing. I suppose it could be a good thing or possibly something bad.
You are lined up with your peers. Red team, blue team, I choose you but not him. The game of kick ball no longer looks like fun when you’re the last one picked.
The music stops. You run and run and you sit in the last chair. Winner.
No matter the outcome, childish games give no validity, good or bad. They start off as seeming all-inclusive, but the last one picked or the first one out is offered no affirmation in character or integrity. Inclusion means nothing.
The Gospel offers something different from unreasonable gain through competition of popularity or smarts. It offers complete and utter invitation that has no place value. We are never first nor last, we just are included into the family, a kingdom.
John 1:12 ESV But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
God’s gift waits through an open door. To walk on through all you must do is accept the one who makes it possible, Jesus. He stands with arms wide open, including all of God’s children.
We don’t need to fret while standing in line, waiting for our number to be called. We don’t need to scratch a lottery ticket to gain approval from the wealthy neighbor. The car can have dents and the kids’ shoes don’t care if they are name brand. Our royalty waits on the other side and we can have hope and joy in this life despite the place value that the world stamps on us.
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1 John 3:1-2 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
We are lavished upon, never waiting in line, and never hoping for a popular vote. The Father loves all just the same. We are all included through faith in Jesus.
Don’t have to worry about first or last and our gift just waits through an open door! Just love that Maryann! It’s so easy to fall into that I have to be this or that trap when all we have to do is run to Jesus! Inspiring post! Cindy from #fmf FB page
It’s crazy how often we make things more competitive than they need to be when Jesus sees us all the same. Thanks for sharing!
Waw, this reminds me to keep asking God to always grant me the gift to be able to distinguish His voice from that of the devil. The world can actually kill you alive. But God is so compassionate and doesn’t harass. For as long as I make a move He receives me! Thanks for this lovely post.
I never thought of it that way, that the world kills you alive. You are so right. God is so good.
Very thought provoking… And often, when I’m thinking about how our societal perceptions are formed, I think back to childhood “ways”… Our patterns are so tricky, which I think is one of largest reasons why the path is narrow. It takes a lot of self awareness and discipline to rewrite these things in our DNA
It is hard to rewrite this awareness and discipline, and sometimes I wish I had done it sooner, but the Lord’s plans are always right on time.
What lovely thoughts – no need to fret while waiting in line… Thank you! Your neighbor at FMF, #9.
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