We see many examples of those who only care for themselves and do not consider others. On the other hand, we watch others constantly caring for others, making their own lives challenging, burdensome on others, and often shortened.
Betwixt the two is the happy medium.
I think of the two who hung on the cross with Jesus. One railed on Him, and the other understood with an insight that gained a reward.
Betwixt the two, you find that middle ground.
The Old Testament is full of words; on the other hand, the New Testament is our foundation of life. We want one over the other, but we need both to live the life Christ taught.
Betwixt the two are the silent years. No prophets existed—no Word from Heaven. No guiding light. It’s often called the Silent Years. Walk by what you know, but there is coming a better way.
This Morning
I was thinking about the ease with which we get caught between two “extremes” and try to find that middle path. We may have personal leanings one way or the other, but keeping our stride between extremes often makes for a better life. We may have a ministry of doing one task, but we need to find balance by allowing that which we do to be done for ourselves.
It’s almost like always being the one to give and struggling to receive. It’s sort of like Giving Thanks and Giving Thanks. Giving. Receiving.
If we constantly shut down one person’s opportunity to give, and we are the receiver who doesn’t want the attention, are we shutting down the blessing?
At the Last Supper, Jesus prepared to wash his disciples’ feet. No one had done it before, and Jesus had feelings about this (Luke 7:36-50). As this was his inner circle of followers, and perhaps as a leadership test, Jesus washed their feet. We only find it in the Gospel of John.
After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
(John 13:5-10 NKJV)
Betwixt the doing and receiving, you cannot live in the middle. You must either be the doer or the receiver. The pushback will push you out of the Lord’s plan and example.
It’s the balance betwixt the two. Learning to receive when you want to give. Learning to give when you’ve been on the receiving end for so many years
May I say… We have so much to learn. But to always be a learner and never a teacher? That’s one-sided and should not be. Take what you have, give, and follow Christ. You will have treasures in heaven.
I have this tree, and I’ve shared so many times before. One intertwined with the other. One produces flowers in the spring, and the other produces apples in the fall. I like them both, but I would have never thought of them working together to produce an enjoyable place in my life.
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