My Bible study on Tuesdays has been meeting since 2013. People have come and gone but three of us have been faithful for 12 years. We always share stories, situations, and circumstances that help our walk with Christ leading us to see JESUS in many situations.
Several weeks ago, Carol shared a story about Mother Teresa.
Mother Teresa was visiting a baker for bread for the children she cared for.
The story on the internet went like this:
The baker, in an act of cruelty, spit in her hand. Mother Teresa, unfazed, responded, “I will keep this for me, but give me some bread for my children,” and extended her other hand for the bread. This act of grace and humility moved the baker, who then became a regular bread supplier for her orphanage.
Her response created an energy that probably would not have been created if she had reacted in a different way. BUT mother Teresa is a NEXT LEVEL PERSON.
Saturday as I was praying about my writing piece for today Aj Calloway popped up on Instagram with a reel from Ryan Leak. Ryans story matches Mother Teresa’s.
Ryan discusses how he forgot to get packets of sauce when checking out with his mediocre chicken tenders.
Ryan went back and said I need to get two packets of barbeque sauce. Rudely the cashier said it will be 75 cents. Ryan said to himself gosh I am going to have to pull out my credit card, you are going to give me 2 slips one for merchant one for customer and then I have to give you a tip. I knew he was trying to make a point. So that happened and I left him a 10$ tip. Man after that tip the waiter was trying to give me anything I wanted. The reason I did it wasn’t to show him I have an extra 10 it was that he didn’t get to ruin my day. I wasn’t going to match because of mediocre sauce I don’t match the energy I set the standard God hasn’t called me to match mediocre with Medicare. You don’t deserve a 10 tip God hasn’t called me to match mediocre with mediocre it isn’t about money It is about carrying a heart do you know what kind of person I am; I won the eternal jackpot that I don’t deserve it makes me want to give away to people what they do not deserve.
You know what, Ryan is a NEXT LEVEL PERSON.
4th of July after everyone was gone and Jay was snoring in the chair beside me, I turned on season 5 episode 3 of the chosen. The chosen is getting tougher and tougher to watch. Jesus is sitting at the mount of olives- Peter, John, Andrew, and Big James come and sit with Him.
Before this scene Jesus had been in the temple turning over tables. He was so distraught over the people not keeping the temple a house of prayer.
(As a side note I think of the differences in the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the old God has an authoritative personality. He gets angry when the people don’t obey. In the New Testament Jesus on the other hand has a gentle personality, teaches about the Bible to His followers and seems loving and caring. So, when the God side of Jesus comes out people don’t know how to respond. Just my take on the difference)
Peter, John, Andrew, and Big James are trying to understand what is going on. The tension is increasing, they know things are getting ready to change. They leave Jesus there alone. I sat in tears as I watched Jesus’ cry knowing what is ahead. Jesus was and is a next level person. He didn’t match energy with energy. He spoke the truth. He died on the cross because of us. He didn’t match mediocre with mediocre. He is the eternal jackpot we don’t deserve but because of what all he had to go through He gives us grace.
Jesus said the most important commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. He also stated that the second most important commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:36-40
New International Version
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Love God and love others. Love others no matter what, give grace, that is how we are the NEXT LEVEL PEOPLE. Don’t match negative energy with negative energy. Match negative energy with positive energy. And don’t let anyone change your energy. Don’t let anyone ruin your day. Just like Mother Teresa and Ryan. Both responded with a positive action to negative. Loving those that didn’t deserve to be loved. And what was the response? The people changed. The baker ended up donating to the Mother Teresa orphanage giving bread all the time. The waiter changed his tune wanting to do anything he could for the customer.
The problem is that we tend to forget what Jesus has done for us.
Let’s begin everyday being reminded of what Jesus has done for us and that he tells us to love Him and love our neighbors. Say every morning, “I am going to love God and love others no matter how they treat me or how they respond to me. I am going to be a change agent penetrating the hearts of people with love and kindness no matter what. I am striving to be a NEXT LEVEL PERSON because of Jesus.”
So, this week, remember these things to have JOY and to remind you Jesus can get you to be a NEXT LEVEL PERSON if you:
1. **Show up for JESUS** – Start your day in the Word.
2. **Show up for OTHERS** – Serve others, whether they are like you or not, whether they annoy you or you don’t understand them. That is what Jesus did; He showed up for EVERYONE.
3. **Show up for YOU**—You need to fill your cup before you can help fill others’ cups.
We will find JOY when we show up for Jesus, others, and ourselves.
As Father Mike says you pray for me, I will pray for you.
Have a great week, Love to ALL! Cupcake
Leave a Reply