How do you act toward others when you are having a rough day?
I have to admit, when I'm under stress I tend to become antisocial. The greater the stress, the more inward I go. At work I'll put on earphones, listen to music, try my best to ignore the people around me.
Are you like that?
The problem with this is, it is impossible to see the needs of others when we are focused only on what is troubling us. We are self-focused, not "others" focused.
Reading in Luke 23 this morning, the crucifixion of our Lord.
"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43 (NIV)
Jesus had been beaten, whipped and now nailed to a cross. The physical stress on his body would lead to his death. Not to mention the ones who put him there were not a faceless mob to him, as they are to us in all the movies. He knew and loved each one of them. He was rejected by those he loved.
Yet, in all of this, as he hung there in pain, dying, he was still aware of someone else's needs. He offers words of comfort to a criminal, a promise of paradise.
There are times when I look at the life of Jesus, and I realize... just how long I have to go.
