More Love, Less War
As I think about people, and why people do the things they do, I wonder about their motives. People want to own and to control material objects, treasures, and sometimes land. Some people want control of people, resources, and land to such an extreme extent that there are wars and battles, and it is all about control. Then we see that people war and battle in order to not be controlled, and we see nations war and battle in order to defend people so that they are not controlled.
All war is about control. Not all wars are large. Some are small, and some are not even noticeable. Most wars are not even seen. Those who war and plan war will tell you that most of the battle is in the mind. There are those who strategize their entire day, planning their actions, specific actions, in order to gain a specific response. I usually chose not to deal with people that behave that way. I chose to follow Christ Jesus a long time ago, and while I may be a leader to some, I am a follower of Jesus. Jesus is in control. Jesus is in control because I choose to give Jesus control. Jesus is in control because regardless of my actions or your actions, our salvation is and always will be dependent upon Jesus. Jesus is in control.
Everyone is aware of God, but few are aware of his great power. Not many of us have ever considered that God could just erase our existence from the earth, and few would remember us, and few would care. It, referring to life in general, is not about us. Life was created by God, and we were created to serve God.
Psalms 24:1-2
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
God never gave us the earth, nor did he give it to Adam. God made us keepers of the earth, just as a shepherd keeps a flock of sheep. God did not leave us either, not even after our sin. God has waited patiently for our return to him, and has waited to hear our repentance.
God sent his son, Jesus to be our Christ. Christ means king, and Jesus is king to this earth. This is why we call him Christ Jesus. Jesus walked among us, taught us, led us, and made God real to us. Christ Jesus bridged the gap between man and God, and then Christ Jesus died for us. The power and authority that God has over the earth, Jesus was given also. Do not forget Christ Jesus has risen.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Christ Jesus is full of power and grace in the same way that Almighty God is full of power and grace. The point that I wanted to make here is that although Christ Jesus was royalty to this earth, Jesus humbled himself to wash the feet of his disciples. Christ Jesus after his last supper, disrobed and put a towel around his waist, and began to wash the feet of his disciples, one by one.
John 13:3-5
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
When Christ Jesus began to wash the feet of Simon Peter, Peter asked why Jesus was washing his feet. Jesus replied that someday Peter would understand. Peter began to refuse to let Jesus wash his feet, because this task was usually given to household servants, if there were any. Jesus replied that if Peter was not washed by Jesus then Peter would not be a part of Jesus, or a part of the kingdom of God. Christ Jesus explained to Peter that Peter needed to be clean physically and spiritually. To be clean spiritually one would be repentant and live in righteousness. Christ Jesus often used literal situations to speak metaphorically to people, attempting to relate to them the significance of salvation.
John 13:6-10
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
After Christ Jesus had washed their feet and redressed, Jesus explained to this disciples that as he has cared for each of them, they should also care for each other.
John 13:12-17
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Christ Jesus humbled himself to help another, and taught us to humble ourselves to help each other. None of us is greater than Christ Jesus or Almighty God, and none of us is greater than the other. Christ Jesus taught us also to love each other. That is what “love one another” means.
John 13:31-35
31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
As I read the scripture above, it is like poetry to me. People know us by our actions, and that is why we need to choose our actions carefully. Some of the best leaders lead by example. Some of the best teachers teach by example. Christ Jesus taught us how to live with each other and that by acting as he taught us, we would be happy, as Christ Jesus said in verse 17.
When we treat each other with love, we are not trying to control them. People are not controlled anyway. We can only teach them well, and hope that they choose well. Hopefully they attempt to understand their choices fully, along with the consequences of their choices, and choose to act in a way that benefits the group as a whole and not just themselves. This is why we are supposed to work with each other, instead of against each other, and to love one another as we love ourselves. Hopefully if I try to live my life this way, someone will also decide to live their life this way also. I do this better some days than others, but at least I try. Hopefully one day many will begin to live their lives this way and hopefully with love. I am more and more concerned these days because I see people binding angels, heaven, earth, discernment, hope, will, peace, and love. Without angels, the earth will cease to function and all that will be left is war. Angels have to be left to do unseen things for God. Without discernment, people are not able to make good decisions. Without hope and will, people will cease to even try. Without peace and love, there will only be hate and war. Binding heaven and earth will hinder heaven and earth, keeping it from being what it should be. As Christians, we need to loose these things, in order to counteract the evil ones binding them. Once we begin to work together with each other, and not against each other, and stop trying to control each other, hopefully then there will be less war, less violence, and less hatred. The world will be a better place then. It is not my way, it is the Jesus way. Christ Jesus was and is the way, the truth, and the life.
In the name of Christ Jesus, I pray and request that people love each other, and work together with each other. I pray and request that people repent of their sin in order to make room for Christ Jesus in their lives. I pray and request that people be led to think about what benefits their family ,and their community as they think about themselves, and I pray and request that Christ Jesus give us empathy and love for each other. I pray and request that Christ Jesus loose love and empathy wherever it has been bound. I pray that Christ Jesues loose discernment, hope, and peace. I pray that Christ Jesus loose heaven and earth in the way that Lord God who is Yahweh would find pleasing. I pray and request that Christ Jesus change our hearts in order that we might be better able to be what Christ Jesus and Almighty God want us to be. I pray this request in the name of Christ Jesus who is my Lord and Savior. Amen.