The Intersection Of Our Lives

Like the edges of circles that overlap on a graph, so also human lives cannot escape intersecting. Our intersections or encounters with others may be brief as with a stranger, but then again friends, family and co-workers all start off as strangers from some point in life and hopefully move forward from there.

For the believers in Christ, I would challenge us all to take care of our circle, our world by keeping a close walk with Jesus before and as our circle intersects with others or as our life touches the lives of others. I know my life is always a work in progress and my world would be a better place if I would obey Jesus, because my world touches yours.

Jesus says to help others and point out their issue, but Jesus also says if we have the same problem, we need to deal with it first, then come and help our friend or family member. Jesus said it like this - 

"first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:5)

When Paul wrote the believers in Rome, he stated his situation and the same situation for many of the rest of us very well -

"For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." (Romans 7:18-19)

We only have to wait until verse 25 of this same chapter to receive the answer and a synopsis of the problem, Paul states - 

"Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."

Until our bodies and minds are glorified or transformed at the rapture, there will be a constant battle between mind and body, thought-life and physical desires. However, Jesus is our deliverer in any situation or circumstance. So, here are three handles to grasp for help -

1. Walk with, talk with and obey Jesus.
2. Deal with whatever "it" happens to currently be in your life.
3. Aide others when you have dealt with "it" and/or help others.

The challenge with this process is to be in step with Jesus to the point that we place a huge pause on having to call on His delivering power while aiding others. The joy and affirmation that believers in Christ have is the assurance of the presence of Jesus with us, through it all, at The Intersection Of Our Lives.

Victories In Disguise

Problems are an excellent avenue or device to develop one's self further, change the negative situation for the better of all involved and take advantage of God's perspective.

In the heat of the moment, the middle of a problem is not usually the point where we remember and act on this idea. Fear not, there will be plenty of problems for training purposes. Life has a plethora of challenging opportunities for us to slow down, take a deep breath and reflect before moving forward or even speaking.

I don't mean to communicate we should invite more problems into our lives in order to grow as an individual. What I am saying is to simply be ready for when the especially frustrating complications of life come. We need to be alert, respond correctly and when we don't, then hopefully we will learn from our mistakes. Practice becomes permanent.

Have you ever been glad that your parents, an older brother or sister, or mentor experienced an obstacle you are experiencing so that you may draw from their advice? One great mindset to approach every problem in life is - someone has gone through my situation and beaten it. The person is Christ Jesus and John records Him telling the disciples and all believers throughout the ages - 

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Another encouraging verse like this one is from the writer of Hebrews - 

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

Every "weakness", every "temptation" has been conquered by Christ. The key is involving the Lord, preferably at the beginning, as you go into a situation. The ultimate de-stresser. This is a mindset to practice. This is a lifestyle to establish. Believers have the honor and privilege of addressing all problems as Victories In Disguise.