because of who they are.

Do you ever treat people differently because of who they are? Say, if Nick J [insert your celebrity love here] came to town and you got to hang out with him -- nothing could ever be wrong with them in your eyes, could it? It's who they are and you love that. 

But then there's this kid, from the "wrong" part of town. She says the "wrong" things, she wears the "wrong" clothes and you know it's definitely not cool -- even by your "Christian" friends -- to talk to this girl. So you're walking across the street, and hey, there she is. She sees you, and offers a timid wave. You lower your eyes and pretend you didn't see. 

Even though it's obvious to the both of you that you did. 

People don't own us. If we're acting on what we think they'd say, what they'd do -- we're going to miss what Jesus wants us to do. What Jesus did do. 

I'm reading Matthew right now. And I've noticed something. He was compassionate. Like, really. Jesus didn't do things because they were the "right" thing do to. He did them because that's who He was -- He couldn't let those five thousand people go hungry, so he fed them, even though he was on that mountain in the first place because he just wanted to sit and think. 

The disciples wanted to send them all away, because they didn't have enough food. But just because they were his friends, didn't mean Jesus had to do what they said -- He knew what was right. Imagine if Jesus had listened to his friends, who said one thing -- instead of doing what He knew was the right thing, the compassionate thing, the loving and God-thing?

When all is over -- you know, said and done, the world had ended -- we're going to be face-to-face with God. 

I don't want to hear, "Why didn't you do what I asked of you?"

I mean, can you just see it? "Oh, well, uh..." My friends might've thought it was dumb if I helped that person. If I'd sat next to that girl by herself, what would've they have thought?

To be honest, probably that you love people. That you're not just thinking about yourself. 

We're missing out when we live like that. We need to live in truth and in love -- over at her blog, Bleah led me over to this post by the wonderful Adam Young. 

He is the only who we need to please. If we're obeying Jesus... that's what we need to do. 

Love. Truth. Hope. Peace. Faith. 

Authenticity. Smile. Honesty. Understanding. 

I like words. Now let's live them. 

dear Jesus

You matter.