CROSSING OVER
5th June 2009
I studied and grew up in a very good Christian school, where we received constant spiritual inputs. The day started with prayer and ended with prayer, besides which we had scripture classes every day for 45 minutes where we were taught from the Bible and memorized chapters and books from the Bible. And then there were morning assemblies, class prayers, prayer cells, all night prayers ….. I was surrounded by teachings of God and it was a wonderful way to have grown up in a place like that with the kind of spiritual input that has really blessed my life. And after my schooling was done, the college I studied in was again a lot similar, but maybe a step ahead of my school. I was surrounded by people who loved God and spoke about God and had a great relationship with Him. I learnt a lot from both these places. And even during vacations when I went home, my parents and the missionaries around mostly spoke about God and mission fields and God’s providence and God’s guidance and so on and so forth. The kind of spiritual foundation that has been built in my life is mainly because of the people who mentored and taught me in these places.
I had to move to Bangalore after college, for my job. I was new to this place and even the few people I knew here weren’t very close friends of mine. I was on my own for the first time in my life. I did go to a church but since I didn’t know anyone there, I wasn’t involved in the church or its care cells for at least the first year that I was in Bangalore. This was one year where I really struggled spiritually. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that I felt spiritually dry. I was on a look out for someone who would mentor me, counsel me and teach me. I wanted a spiritual mentor. All my life, this far, I was surrounded by spiritual mentors. And here, I was struggling without one.
One day a friend of mine from college, gave me a call and when he was enquiring about my spiritual life, I shared about my need for a mentor here in Bangalore. And he said something beautiful, which slowly did turn around my way of thinking (after having grown in places of spiritual bounty). He said – ‘After having received so much input, by so many people, in your life, are you still looking for a mentor? Don’t you think with all that you have learnt, it’s time for you to be a mentor? Stop looking around for a mentor and be a mentor yourself’. This did make a lot of sense. Eventually I did find some amazing people in my church like my pastor and my care cell leader who were mentor throughout my life in Bangalore and even now. But by then, I had learnt that mentors were to help me grow but at the same time, I had learnt that lack of a mentor should not mean spiritual dryness.
I was reading from Matthew 8, yesterday morning, and was reading this part where Jesus heals Peter’s mother in law. Verse 15 says that - He touched her hand and the fever left her; and she got up and began waiting on Him.
The lady was sick with fever and had people waiting on her and helping her and doing things for her. She was in a place where she could only receive and not give. Jesus walks into her life and TOUCHES her. She got up and began waiting on Him. This lady, who needed waiting on, is now waiting on others. What made the difference? The touch of Jesus. She needed people to wait on her. But once Jesus touched her, she begins to wait on others. The touch of Jesus made such a big change to her life.
I was so excited after God spoke to me through this verse. The touch of Jesus turns the mentored into a mentor, a student into a teacher, the one who needs encouraging into the one who encourages.
On one side are people who need mentors, who need love, who need people to understand them, who need people to spend time with them, talk to them, who need counsel, who need support, encouragement….. On the other side are people who do the mentoring, who give love, who listen to people and understand, who spend time with others and listen to others, who give counsel, give support, give encouragement…. Once I receive the TOUCH OF GOD in my life, I cross over to the other side, to the side that does the giving. Amen!!
Now whenever I feel like I need someone to talk to, I try and make sure I’m there for someone who needs someone to listen. When I feel I need someone who understands, I try and make myself available for someone who needs to be understood. When I feel I need encouragement, I encourage someone. When I feel I need love, I show love. Joyce Meyer in a book of hers says, you don’t need to love someone, to show them love. Showing love is an action, where you listen to someone, smile at them, try and get them what they need. To do this, you don’t have to wait till you love them. God knows and will reward your actions by removing all those hard feelings and bitterness.
The word of God says everyone have their own problems. Before one receives God’s touch, one only think of one’s problem and needs help. After one receives God’s touch, one pushes one’s problem to God, and thinks of others’ problems and gives help.
Now, Jesus’ touch is available for one and all. It was made freely available for all at the cross. Now it is up to us to decide, if we have received that touch or not.
Matthew 8:14, 15 - And when Jesus went into Peter's house, He saw his mother-in-law lying ill with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her; and she got up and began waiting on Him.
Mark 10: 45 - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Isaiah 35: 3 - Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
Luke 6: 38 - Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love;
Where there is injury your pardon, Lord;
And where there's doubt true faith in you.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there's despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, only light;
And where there's sadness, ever joy.
Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
In giving to all men that we receive;
And in dying that we're born to eternal life.
