An Example of Love

Jesus loved children and ever influenced them for good. He cared for the poor and needy even in His childhood. In every gentle, tender, and submissive way He sought to please those with whom He came in contact; but though so gentle and submissive, no one could lead Him to do anything that was contrary to the Word of God. Some admired His perfection of character and often sought to be with Him, but others who regarded human sayings more than the Word of God turned away from Him and avoided His company….

As Jesus looked upon the offerings that were brought as a sacrifice to the temple, the Holy Spirit taught Him that His life was to be sacrificed for the life of the world…. From His earliest years He was guarded by heavenly angels, yet His life was one long struggle against the powers of darkness. Satan sought in every way to tempt and try Him. He caused people to misunderstand His words so that they might not receive the salvation He came to bring them….

He was faithful in obeying the commands of God, and this made Him very different from those around Him, who disregarded the Word of God. His stainless life was a rebuke, and many avoided His presence, but there were some who sought to be with Him because they felt at peace where He was….

He did not fail nor become discouraged. He lived above the difficulties of His life, as if in the light of God’s countenance. He bore insult patiently and in His human nature became an example for all children and youth.

Christ showed the greatest respect and love for His mother. Though she often talked with Him and sought to have Him do as His brethren desired Him to do, He never showed her the least lack of devotion….

Mary had felt greatly troubled when the priests and rulers came to her to complain about Jesus, but peace and confidence came to her troubled heart as her Son showed her what the Scriptures said about His practices. At times she wavered between Jesus and His brethren, who did not believe that He was sent of God; but she saw enough to show her that His was a divine character.—Youth’s Instructor, December 12, 1895.
From the Heart p. 232
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for E to have wisdom and God’s guidance in a life-changing matter. B
—-Prayers for little boy 3 yrs old, was stung by a yellow jacket and has hives and swelling. CP
—-Please pray for the people in the Spokane area who have lost everything in the fires. James
—-Please pray again for Janine in the hospital for treatment for Multiple Myeloma. She is in a great deal of pain. Pam
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,

I thought my art teacher in high school had a bit of a mean streak. He was nice enough most of the time, but every six weeks when time came to give us our grades, his mean streak showed. At least it seemed like that to me. Instead of just handing out our grade, he took each of us aside individually, told us how we could improve our artistic skill (or lack thereof) and built up a huge amount of suspense before handing us our grade. This didn’t bother the ones who really didn’t care what grade they got as long as they passed, but it bothered me immensely. I had a very hard time handling anything less than an A from any class I took and I could only get a B from him due to my lack of talent. As I would await my turn, I front of the teacher, my tension grew until I was very stressed.

During the winter and early spring, we did block prints. At first we learned how to carve small blocks of wood from a pattern, ink them, and lay them face down on a piece of cotton sheet. I really enjoyed making them. After carving several small blocks, we were each given a block of wood about 9×12 inches and told we could carve anything we wished.

As I looked at that blank plank, A picture began to form in my mind. In the upper left corner I would carve a moon. On the right side of my wooden “canvas,” I began carving a tree. Soon this tree’s branches reached its barren fingers nearly to my moon. In the lower left quadrant I carved a grave complete with headstone. Near the foot of this grave was a girl with long flowing hair. She appeared to be crying as she buried her face in her hands. As a finishing touch to this macabre scene I carved arcs from the moon each getting closer and closer to the one in mourning. I was pleased at how well it had turned out.

My teacher, however, was not pleased. He was very concerned. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that something so ghastly would have come from my mind. He said nothing until grade time. When I was my turn to sit before him in his office, he did not do his usual tormenting before handing me my grade. This time, he told me how well I had done. Then he voiced his concern over my choice of scenes. I was shocked then questioned myself. Why had that blank piece of wood suggested such a scene to my mind. Suddenly it had dawned on me. In February, my grandmother had died. I tend to hold in my emotions so had not grieved as I should have. I remembered standing beside her casket without tears although I was shaking like a leaf. This woodcarving expressed the sorrow I felt inside. I explained this to my teacher. He was relieved that there was an explanation yet expressed concern that I had not let my grief show at the time of her death. He talked about how hard that was on both body and mind and counseled me to let my feelings show.

From that moment, I looked at this man in a new light. He was not mean at all. He was truly interested in helping each of his students to achieve their full potential. He desired that they excel in their creativity, yes, but most of all that they develop into happy, well-adjusted adults. Before this incident, my art teacher was my least favorite teacher. Through his concern for my wellbeing, however, he became a favorite and well-remembered teacher although, of course, I never let him know how I felt.

Just as I had misjudged my teacher’s motives in bringing each student before him at grade time, so we often misjudge the motives of others to their hurt. Jesus commands, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Matt 7:1-5; Luke 6:37, 38

Is there never a time when we should judge another? Jesus explains, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24 Yet how many have turned away from Christ because of our unfair judgment of their motives. Paul reminds us, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” Rom 14:10 Only as we take the time to listen to them do we realize their motive behind their action. Only as we allow Jesus to work through us in our dealings with others can we safely judge and with that judgment start the process for their restoration. “ Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19, 20 “ Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way” is my prayer.

Rose