the Time Jesus irritated me
Thinking of Jesus can be so irritating sometimes. Like in the midst of my heart turning hateful toward my enemies, and His words about loving them, even if they have persecuted me, come rushing into my mind. For real, that is really irritating. I was thinking about this a few days ago after I viewed an altercation that came to blows on the basketball court a few days back. It started normally enough. Two guys begin mouthing off to one another about a foul or a travel or whether or not Charles Barkley is fat or big-boned, and then it progresses into this full out altercation, complete with balls flying across the room (basket, that is) and fists following shortly after that. Several guys were more than enough to put a stop to the pugilist fair, but I stayed away as my mind raced to the time I had a brief arguing session with the guy who threw the first punch.
It hadn’t been that long ago, maybe 3 months. He had just started playing with our group, and apparently he wanted to make a name for himself or something, because it seemed like his mouth aimed at every person he played against. So I finally decided to stick my words back in his mouth. Thankfully (as I found out a few days ago) I eventually walked away, and then, as if to pour salt on the wound, I thought of Jesus and those irritating words again: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” This is what happened next:
Marty: Ummm, Jesus, would you mind taking those words out of my mind please?
Jesus: You should go to Him and apologize.
Marty: Oh sure, apologize because he has a big mouth, I’ll do that (with a snort).
Jesus: Have you ever had a big mouth?
Marty: Every Sunday morning actually, and possibly a few other times, ya know, with my sisters, and maybe a few others times on the basketball court.
Jesus: So go to him, apologize and Marty, it won’t just help him, it will help you, and the hate you have in your heart right now.
Marty: But wait, there are people in the world who are just big jerks…
Jesus: And it’s your personal job to teach them a lesson?
Marty: (walks immediately over to the future Muhammad Ali and apologizes)
Watching the argument take place yesterday, and realizing that after I apologized to said quarreler, we became good acquaintances on our way to friends, I begin to understand that Jesus words are not posted on paper for some uber spiritual, hard to understand reason. They are there for you and me, so that our hearts stay whole and not ripped to shreds (think Tom Riddle), making future relationships impossible to grow. They are there because He knows the way the world works, and we don’t. But still…
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I am speaking from my own experience when I say you did the “right thing”. Most times, the “right thing” is what frustrates me most. Like Paul, I want want to do it but fail miserably most times. It is the the LONG process of putting off the “old man”. We as believers, try to think that putting that old self away and putting on the new man is something that happens simply after a great Sunday morning service. In truth, Paul fought it until he was called home to heaven. You and I will too. Marty, this is just one small step in becoming what Jesus Christ wants you to be. Remember this life is a journey of peeks and valleys, promised lands and desert wanderings … we just need to do the “right thing” regardless of where our journey takes us.
Wow bro’! Thosae are some deep lessons. I have a person that was the biggest jerk to me in middle school and I still get mad inside when his name comes up or I think about him. Maybe it’s time I look him up and and apologize to him for all that stuff back then…I’ll let you know how it goes.