Here's How You Do It | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Here's How You Do It | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kathern Nemec
07/30/13
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Our 3 year old grandson Jehiel raced to the scooter, stood it upright, and looked bewildered. He was obviously trying to figure out what to do with it. So Grandpa showed him, then I showed him. We demonstrated how to ride the scooter. We didn’t simply say “That’s a scooter. Ride it.” We said, “Here’s how you do it.” Riding it ourselves first, we then stayed with him and steadied him until he could get the hang of it.

Isn’t that the way our Father God teaches us? He shows us by His example, as if to say “Here’s how you do it…” We can learn a myriad of things from His example, but let’s narrow it down to the following three things:

HOW TO LOVE: Christ told His disciples to “love one another; as I have loved you.” (John 13:34 NKJV) He didn’t simply say “love one another”. He said “Here’s how you do it” when He loved them – and us – unconditionally, eternally, no strings attached. THAT’S the way he wants us to love others. We read in Romans 5:5 that He poured that love out “in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given us.” (NKJV) He not only commands us to love one another, He shows us how, and empowers us to do it.

HOW TO SHOW MERCY: Jesus said that our Father God is “kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:35,36 NKJV) He doesn’t just command us to be merciful and leave it up to us to figure out how. He says “Here’s how you do it.” Jesus showed us how to be merciful when He poured out the Father’s mercy on the undeserving – and on us – so we can see how it’s done. Think of the mercy He showed the woman caught in adultery, on Zaccheaus, on the lepers, on the Samaritan woman at the well, on Peter, on the demon possessed...and on each of us. Yes, He showed us how to be merciful.

HOW TO FORGIVE: The Apostle Paul said we should forgive one another. He also said “Here’s how you do it” when he added “even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV) By forgiving us, God demonstrated the quality of forgiveness with which He expects us to forgive others. He forgave us willingly, completely, unconditionally and forever in Jesus. He forgave us that way, so that we can forgive others even as He forgave us. He shows us how and gives us His grace to forgive others.

Just like we didn’t expect Jehiel to pick up the scooter and know how to ride it, God doesn’t expect us to love, show mercy or forgive anyone on our own. We simply don’t know how. That’s why He’s always willing to show us how to do it first, then He sticks right with us as we get the hang of it. Praise God for that!

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