The Old Man and Abraham ~ Having patience with others

There is an old jewish legend regarding Abraham. It says that one day he was by his tent in the desert among his family and friends when and old man came upon them. The man was 100 years old and was using a cane to walk with.

As was the custom Abraham welcomed the man and offered to make him a meal and a place to sleep for the night. Abraham had made a nice meal with lamb for the old man. When they sat down to eat Abraham raised his plate to the heavens and thanked God for his provision. The old man, however, simply started to eat his meal.

This bothered Abraham and he motioned for the old man to stop eating. He asked him, "Don't you bless God for the provisions He gives you?" "I don't worship God," replied the old man, "I only worship fire." And he commenced eating for he was very hungry.

This outraged Abraham and he shouted at the man for his lack of reverance and faith towards his God. He made the old man get up and leave at once, sending him into the dark dangers of the desert night.

After the man left, Abraham sat in his tent feeling that his anger was just and righteous. Just then, the Lord appeared before him. "Where is the old man I sent you Abraham?" asked the Lord. "I made him leave because he didn't believe in you and fear your name" stated Abraham in a self-dignified manner. "Abraham, O Abraham" said the Lord. "I have striven patiently with this old man these past one hundred years, and you could not strive with him just one night?"

Upon hearing that Abraham put his head down low. He conscious was seared and he felt guilty. He looked up to reply to the Lord, but He was gone.

Abraham ran out of the tent and found the old man...he didn't make it too far yet. He aplologized to him and begged him to return. The old man obliged.

During their meal together Abraham explained to the old man all about the miracles and wonders God had done for him. The old man became a believer in God that night. At bedtime they both prayed to God together. The old man asked God to forgive him for all the bad things he had done, promised he would change his ways and that he would live his life in a manner that would please God.

The next morning Abraham went to the old man's tent to awake him for breakfast. But to his surprise, the old man had died during the night.


COMMENTARY

I love this story! It reminds me of the longsuffering and patience God has shown me. While this is a legend I could certainly see such an event happening.

How about you? Is there one or more people that you can think of that you have lost your patience with? Maybe you are one of those parents who has given up on and turned your back on one of your children. Or a child that has turned your back on one or both of your parents. Take heed to the story above and remember, or perhaps realize, the infinite amount of patience God has with you.

Remember also that Jesus said, Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." Matt 5:7


APPLICATION

If this story has the same impact on you as it did me, you probably feel a little convicted about the lack of patience you have shown to one or more people. Did someone come to your mind immediately when you read this story? If so, you know what you need to do. Forgive them! Have patience with all people, knowing the amount of patience God has shown, and continues, to show you.

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matt 6:14,15

Others may not share your beliefs, morals or values but you are to be Christlike and have patience with them. Don't delay, contact that person today. You never know, it may be your last chance to make ammends and instill hope in them. When you are forgiving and patient to such a person they see the light in you and maybe it will be just enough to permeate the darkness they are in.

Patience is also a great virtue in regards to all of your relationships, your spouse, children, parents, co-workers, friends and strangers.

The next time you find yourself losing your patience with someone, take a deep breath, remember this story and God's patience with you. If you do, I promise you that your reaction will be a good one.

~ J. Lawrence Finley

"I Love You Anyways" ~ How to be loving at all times

Here is a heart warming story in which a man realizes how much his wife really loves him.
One day this man overcame his fear of rejection and decided to ask his boss for a raise in salary. It was Friday. He told his wife that morning what he was about to do. All day the man felt nervous and apprehensive. Late in the afternoon he summoned the courage to approach his employer. To his delight, the boss agreed to a raise.

The man arrived home to a beautiful table set with their best china. Candles were lighted. His wife had prepared a festive meal. Immediately he figured that someone from the office had tipped her off! Finding his wife in the kitchen, he told her the good news. They embraced and kissed, then sat down to a wonderful meal. Next to his plate the man found a beautiful lettered note. It read: "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you."

While on his way to the kitchen to get dessert he noticed that a second card had fallen from her pocket. Picking it off the floor, he read: "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you."

Total acceptance! Total love. Her love for him was not contingent upon his success at work. In fact, just the opposite. If he were to fail there, if he were to be rejected by his boss he'd be all the more accepted at home. She stood behind him no matter what; softening the blows, healing the wounds, believing in him, loving him. We can be rejected by almost anyone if we're loved by one. ~ Dr. Joeseph Harding

COMMENTARY

That truly is a heartwarming story. The wife's actions display the kind of love our heavenly Father has for us. It is a love that is unconditional. God loves us no matter what! When we succeed, when we fail. When we make the right choices and when we make the wrong choices. It matters not to God if you are talented, beautiful, smart, successful or any of the other myriad of so called essential qualities that many deem necessary to make one valuable or loveable.

In the dictionary loveable is defined as; of such a nature as to attract love, deserving love. God's love does not agree with that definition. For God loves all, even those that do not seem deserving of love. Yes He even loves those who are not of such a nature as to attract love. Do you?

We must strive to understand this love, receive it and share it with others. How is it that you love those that matter most to you? Do you only love them when they are loveable? When times are good? When they are treating you how you want to be treated? What about when times are bad, when they don't treat you right, or when they fail or make mistakes. If you only are loving when the other deserves it, it is not true love. It conveys the message that, "I will only love you when you meet my standards." True unconditional love is not like this. It loves in good times and in bad times. It loves you when you are strong and when you are weak.

The sad thing is that many feel that this is how God loves them. When they sin, make mistakes, or fail they feel as if they are no longer worthy of God's love and that He is turning away in anger. This couldn't be further from the truth! "Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when were dead in transgressions, it is by grace you have been saved." ~ (Ephesians 2:4-5). The best definition I have ever heard of God's grace is undeserved mercy. You see God accepts us as we are, even when we are at our bottoms or our lowest points He stands there with His arms of love just waiting for us. True love yearns for the other's best.

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained”
~ C.S. Lewis

APPLICATION

This story is about love and one of the best verses of Love can be found in 1 Corinthians 13. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

There are many definitions of love in those verses. Perhaps you are strong in some areas such as patience and kindness but you are easily angered and you keep a record of wrongs, always at the ready to bring up to your loved one when you feel they need it. I would suggest going through all these descriptions and find the areas you are weak in. Make it a conscious effort to better yourself in those areas even if it's just one at a time.

Always try to put yourself in the other's shoes. Ask yourself, "If I was them what would I want or need most at this moment?" Remember the golden rule, to treat others as you would want them to treat you. Don't wait for the other to do their part first either. Love is about initiating and giving. I remember a couple being interviewed on the news on Valentines Day. They had been married for over 50 years and were very happy. The reporter separated them and asked them both the same question; "What is the secret to a happy marriage?
The woman replied, "That's simple, I treat him like a king and he treats me like a queen." Then she went over to the husband and his reply was, "That's simple, I treat her like a queen and she treats me like a king." They had come to understand that it was their job to initiate, and not wait for the other. Many in relationships today will wait until they are treated how they want to be until they will treat the other the way they want to be treated. The best thing about doing this properly is that you reap what you sow and your love and kindness will come back to you, just be patient.

Be forgiving! Jesus taught us that we are to ask God to forgive us the same manner in which we forgive others. Are you comfortable to have God forgive you as you forgive others?

Sadly there are cases out there in which you cannot simply say, "I forgive you, all is well." Cases such as abuse, infidelity and other acts of wickedness. There may be times when separation and professional help is needed. Even in these cases we are commanded to love and to pray for the other person. Even if they become our enemies. Jesus said, "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven...If you love those who love you what reward will you get?" ~ Matthew 5:43-45

I want to close with the image of the greatest act of love this world has ever known, Jesus on the cross. He had been falsely accused, whipped to the edge of death, his bloody beaten body was then painfully nailed to a cross. And what does He say, as he looks at those that did all this to him? " Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

When those that you love fail you or fail themselves learn to honestly say, "I love you anyways."

J. Lawrence Finley

Rising Above ~ The greatest motivation of all

There was a teenager who played on a high school football team in Nebraska. Well, he really didn’t get to play in most games. He wasn’t that talented at all but he had a lot of spirit and the coach liked that. He was at every practice, tried his best and cheered his teammates on during their games. His father was also at every practice and every game in the bleachers.

One day, the young man had missed a practice. The coach, being worried, gave him a call after practice. He told his coach that his father had died the night before. The coach tried to console the young man and asked if there was anything he could do for him. The boy replied, “There is one thing coach, I want to start in the game next week.” This threw the coach back, he knew that the game was the State Championship game, but he figured he would let him start the first play and then take him out.

A week later this young man found himself in the huddle of the opening drive with his team. He insisted adamantly that the quarterback give him the ball. The quarterback was not supposed to give him the ball, but saw the tenacity in his eyes and decided he would take the risk.

The young man, with no talent, grabbed that ball and ran 50 yards! The coach and team were ecstatic and decided to keep him in. The young man went on to run for 4 touchdowns! He broke records that had been unbeaten for years, and of course, they won the championship.

After the game the coach called the young man aside and told him that he had seen many players over the years move it up a notch or two during big games, but nothing like that. The coach asked him how he did it. To this the young man replied, “Well coach, you know how my father used to come to every practice and game?” The coach said, “Yes.” The young man went on to say, “There was something you might not have noticed, did you ever see how I would put my arm around his back as we walked out?” The coach, thinking back, said, “Yeah, I kind of remember that, what about it?” The young man replied, “I did that because my father was blind, and tonight I felt like for the first time in my life, my father could see me play. I love him so much and wanted to do my best for him, that’s how I did it.”

COMMENTARY

I have never shared that story without a tear. My eyes are watery even now. It affects me so strongly because I grew up in New England with my mother and sisters, while my dad lived in Florida. I also played many sports. In the small town I grew up in most of the parents were still married. I was one of the very few that had parents that were divorced. I remember one night, just before Father’s Day, we had a Father and Son night for all the sports teams. It was in front of the whole school, I was the only one on my team without a dad. My coach decided he would walk with me so I wouldn’t feel so out of place. I’ll never forget his kindness, but I will also never forget sneaking into the woods nearby shortly afterwards and crying. It hurt not to be able to do my best in front of my father.

The point of this story is one of the most important messages of the whole bible. God truly loves us, enough to send His one and only begotten son to die for all of our sins. He did this because He wants us to love Him. He could have chosen to create us with no free will, but who would want to be loved by someone that has to love you?

I don’t regret the sufferings I endured as a child or as a man. The Lord strengthens us through our sufferings. We also get to understand him more and can choose to become more like him as we are partakers of His sufferings. “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1st Peter 4:13)

You see, many of the trials we go through, if we pay attention, are in our life because the Lord wants us to understand Him more. The more we know and understand Him the more we will love Him.

The young man in the story above was able to go above and beyond what he, or anyone else for that matter, thought he could do. He could do it because he was motivated by the greatest power in the universe, LOVE! I also believe that each one of us has the potential to soar to heights beyond what we can even dream of if we too are filled with and motivated by love.

Shall I not yield to that constraining power?
Shall I not say, O tide of love, flow in?
My God, Thy gentleness hath conquered me,
Life cannot be as it hath hither been.


APPLICATION

As Paul wrote, “Do everything in love.” (1Corinthians 16:14) Too many in the world today the word love is used loosely. Love has many poor definitions in today’s secular world.

Some of the most successful people in this world are ones that have at least one other person who truly loves and believes in them. You can never say you don’t have anyone who loves you because you always have the Lord. You have our heavenly Father, who just like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, is waiting for you to come home. Before you get there he will be running out to meet you, kiss you, hug you and welcome you back.

The bible says, “God is Love.” And with Love (God) on your side, who can be against you? We have so much true power in us, if we will but yield and obey.

Live each day as if you have a Father in heaven who is watching you. Not a mean God waiting for you to slip up. He's not like that at all!

Here is a good place to be reminded what true love is, not the love of this world:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

LOVE CONQUERS ALL!

J. Lawrence Finley