No, not Jesús, José's brother, but Jesus Himself! On one of our early trips to Heaven (Mexico), God revealed a lot about what the kingdom life should look like. He did this through Miquel, the towel attendant at the resort pool. I watched Miguel over several days, and his positive and joyous attitude was amazing and contagious, and I began to wonder how he could live like that, considering that he was NOT on vacation, didn't get to jump into the pool, enjoy a cold drink, or eat the all inclusive food, and likely returned to poverty each evening without enough money to care for his family well. Then I began a list of what I learned about Jesus from Miguel, and discovered the verses that filled in the blanks. I realized that he was far more like Jesus than I was! Here's the list, 10 things, in no particular order but as they occurred to me: (No commentary necessary!)
1. Be content. Phillipians 4:11 "...I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." and Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" and 1 Timothy 6:6-8 "Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."
2. Be humble. Phil 2:3-4 "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
3. Live right now. Mañana is mañana. Matt 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
4. No problema. Phil 2:14 "Do all things without grumbling or questioning." and Eph 6:6-7 "do the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord."
5. Enjoy relationships and family while you can. Luke 22:14-16 "And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”"
6. Be thankful. Colossians 3:15-16 "And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
7. Work hard, and appreciate it. Ephesians 6:5-8 "obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord."
8. Be a servant with a good attitude. 2 Timothy 2:24-25 "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness."
9. Be respectful. 1 Tim 5:1-2 "Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity."
10. Simplify. Matt 6:31-34 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
This is why we must return to Mexico frequently, in order to be reminded of these things! ☺
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