6 Jan, 2009
Eating kosher is the easy part
But livin' like Jesus has some hard parts!
(Picture by Rex Larsen)
It's one thing to follow the teachings of Jesus, but it's another thing to try to eat like him, talk like him, look like him, even vote like him.
Former pastor spent a year trying to live as Jesus did. After reading the book "A Year of Living Biblically," by A.J. Jacobs, former pastor Ed Dobson decided to devote a year trying to live as Jesus did, based on what is written about him in the Bible and other historical documents.
"I read that book a little over a year ago, and I thought, well, if a secular Jew could do this, certainly a follower of Jesus could," Dobson said today on "Good Morning America Weekend."
Dobson, the vice president of spiritual formation at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich., said he did not shave, ate kosher, observed the Sabbath and read through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John every week.
The most difficult part of the challenge, Dobson said, was obeying Jesus' teachings, particularly the idea of blessing the people who persecute you.
"My youngest son did two tours in Iraq, and on the last tour, a friend of his was killed in action and my wife and I went for the visitation and I was overwhelmed with grief and also with anger for the people who had made the roadside bomb, planted it and detonated it," he said. "And then I finally realized I had to pray for them and bless them, which is very, very hard to do."
Dobson's message to others heading into the new year is to start reading the Bible, which he acknowledged can be demanding.
"I would encourage people, whether you've ever read the Bible or not, begin reading the Bible, and just listen to what God has to say."
By JONANN BRADY
Jan. 4, 2009
(To view the full story and see the interview, go to http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/story?id=6573818)
Matthew 5:43-44
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."
What does God's Story scripture teach us about how we should respond to our "enemies"?
Jesus was famous for making seemingly outrageous statements, and this was one of them. I mean, loving your enemies!?!...praying for those who persecute you!?!
This seems so counterculture it is hard to even consider...but it is exactly what Jesus taught. Not only did He teach it, He lived it. Even while hanging on the cross Jesus prayed for those who had just beaten, whipped, crucified and mocked Him. Wow...what an amazing Savior!
The command is simple...love and pray for those who make your life hard. The application...not so simple.
How can we connect today's story and God's story with my story?
You may or may not have "enemies"...but we all have people around us who just seem to make life difficult. Maybe it is a coach, a teacher, a boss, someone at school or even a parent or sibling.
There are also those people around our nation and around the world who believe differently than you might. Whether it is a pro-abortion activist or someone who commits atrocities in the name of another religion, we can often fall into hating those who oppose our beliefs and choices.
Jesus, however, calls us to something different...something radical...something that is only possible if He is living in us...loving and praying for them.
How can we connect today's story, God's story and my story with their story?
- Stop right now...think of that person or those people for whom you have held hatred...pray for them.
- Pray also for your heart. If you are not at a point where you can honestly say that you love them...ask God to change your heart slowly to be like His. "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."
- Re-read all of Matthew 5. You will find a lot of radical teachings from Jesus that will help you reflect Him to those around you.
