"Can't Someone Else Be Jesus?" by Pastor Kevin Lynch

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Joey 5,and Tommy 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,‘Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.’ Joey turned to his younger brother and said, “Tommy, you be Jesus!”

That's one way of getting around it!

Let someone else be Jesus.

I want mine and I want it now.

Someone else will always step up.

Until no one does.

There's only one "first" pancake to go around.

After that it's second.

It's not always fun being second, even when we have understood the importance of that concept and have decided to accept that role.

If we step outside the proper context of that ideal for even a moment, a disgruntled spirit will rise up.

Perspective is hard to maintain even when the tree is bearing good fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

I have to keep this in mind every day. If I hear one more debate on health care, one more report on the unemployment rate, one more excuse...ahh... but the Word makes too much sense.

There is love in the midst of hatred. Peace in the midst of war. Patience in the midst of frustration. Kindness in the midst of cruelty. Goodness in the midst of wickedness. Faithfulness in the midst of disloyalty. Gentleness in the midst of roughness. Self-control in the midst of rashness.

These are not things that get turned on or off. I am amazed at times at just how much they are beyond my control.

If self-control were up to me I would have no self-control.

But it's not up to me. It's up to the Holy Spirit, and He does good work.

It's not up to you either and if you find yourself struggling and failing and feeling guilty later there is a good chance that you are not allowing Him to do His work.

It's the fruit of the Spirit. So that means the Spirit has to planted and rooted in you to bear this good fruit.

It's a good day to check if that's the case or not.

But you already know if it is or not. Don't you? Sure you do.

Why not settle it today and begin experiencing the benefits that God provides.

You will be thankful, and everyone around you will be thankful.

Be blessed!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><