Are You Reading Your Mail? -- Jason Brown

Are You Reading Your Mail? -- Jason Brown

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Here's when the Spirit really got my attention on Sunday morning.  Pastor Ken referenced two envelopes.  He held up the first envelope and said, "This envelope has my name on it and God wants me to open it because it's His word for me."  Then he held up the other envelope, "This envelope has my wife's name on it and God wants her to open it because it's His word for her."  

He then went on to explain that most of the time we're busy trying to get the other person to read their mail.  We like to open up the letter addressed to them, put it in their face and say, "This is what you need to do!"  Did anyone else wonder whether Pastor Ken was having a personal conversation with them at that point?  That was a word for me.

So, when it comes to reading my mail from Ephesians 5, Jesus is asking me to love my wife unconditionally -- as Christ loved the church.  He tells me to love and care for her as if she were my own body.  Whoa! This is what I'm called to irrespective of whether my wife is reading her mail from Ephesians 5.  So, by the grace of God, this is what I'm focusing on.  Pray for me!

By the way, I think this envelope analogy needs to be pressed beyond the marriage relationship.  Too often we Christians feel the need to open the mail addressed only to those who follow Jesus and put it in the face of people who haven't yet said yes to following Jesus. I'm not sure why we would expect anyone -- politicians, prodigals, and people who don't think and act the way we think they should -- to adopt Christ's ethic if they haven't gladly said, "Christ is Lord."  The mail that's addressed to them says this, "You are loved.  Come home."

I look forward to your thoughts.

Posted on Wed, May 6, 2009 by Jason Brown

8 comments (Add your own)

1. Heather Gates wrote:
My thought is that we have a natural tendency to put the same expectations on everyone else because we think that if they would just live the way Jesus told his followers to live, then healing and restoration would come to the brokenness in their lives and a lot of problems could be solved. But I think you're absolutely right, Jason. Until someone has said "Yes" to Jesus, there is no reason to expect - much less demand - Christ-like behavior from them. Placing those expectations on people who don't yet have Christ in their hearts will only drive them farther away from him.

And actually, it's rather freeing to stop trying so hard to get everyone else on board with how I think they should live.

Yet, I find that I need to be constantly reminded of this. Here's where I could use some help. HOW do I make sure that my message to the rest of the world is (and continues to be) "You are loved. Come here," instead of "I wish you would live THIS way" ...?

Wed, May 6, 2009 @ 12:13 PM

2. Almita wrote:
You are so right, Jason. We do not have the right to expect those who don't know the saving grace of Jesus Christ within them to be able to live as He would have them to live. The old adage, "You can't give what you don't have," would apply. But, on the other hand, we at least must tell them that "they have mail." Our Lord has so many different ways to reach people individually. Some people actually do need to hear the eternal consequences of their lifestyles, while others (most others) really do need to hear that Jesus loves them unconditionally. Being led by God's Holy Spirit to know when and what to speak of His truths is so important in being His effective witness. I pray daily that I will become more sensitive and responsive to His leading.

Wed, May 6, 2009 @ 5:04 PM

3. Alecia wrote:
I HATE it when someone else opens my mail! And I wouldn't think of actually opening something addressed to my husband--even if I knew that what was inside was "neutral" or meant for both of us. So from now on I'm determined to read my own mail and let everyone else read theirs. Hey, my "stack" is big enough without concerning myself with the messages that are meant for them!

Wed, May 6, 2009 @ 5:46 PM

4. Haydee Lopez wrote:
Jason:

The message Pastor Ken made on Sunday touched me in a different way, but I will address what touched you from my perspective, if you don’t mind.

I am a visual learner as are most people. When I used to teach adult students, which by the way are the worst kind of student’s only because we adults tend to think we know it all, I would use visualization to further their understanding. Often, words to some people are just a bunch of data on paper and until someone shows them how to connect the dots so to speak, the light bulb won’t light up over their heads. By the way, the use of visual tools by Pastor Ken apparently worked well for many people.

One of the first gifts that I believe that God gave man and women was the gift of choice. In the garden of Eden: And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Gen 2:16, 17

Many might suggest that the last portion was not a choice, it was a command. But it depends on how you’re looking at it. “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." I find what God stated to be a very strong warning against choosing to eat of the fruit. The tree would not have been left there if a matter of choice would not be given; much like the envelope addressed for someone else that came to your home. Just because it’s there, it doesn’t mean you should open it as it is an unwritten rule and if you do, then only you will understand what it will cost you. Sir Isaac Newton wasn’t the first to initiate the Law’s of Motion; he was just the first one to theorize it so that it would make sense to those who read it. “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” Eccl. 1:9

Newton's Law's of Motion:
1. Law of Inertia: Every body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a straight line, unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.
2. Law of Motion: The change of motion is proportional to the motive force impressed; and is made in the direction of the right line in which that force is impressed.
F=ma
3. Law of Action and Reaction: To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction; or the mutual actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal and directed to contrary parts.
Retrieved from: http://dbanach.com/course/mod/resource/view.php?id=74

Because I don’t like to go around reading other people’s mail and then try to make them read and do as it asks, I would rather utilize what Missouri has on its license plate, they have the phrase “Show me State.” Actions speak louder than words, so I would rather let people see what Christ has done in my life and then speak about it when asked, because unfortunately for those who don’t yet know what Christ can do for them, “actions speak louder than words.” They will react to our actions quicker than to our words. Using all three of Newton’s laws will help us achieve what our mission is all about.

Thu, May 7, 2009 @ 7:58 AM

5. Belinda Chacon wrote:
WOW this really spoke to me! this past week the holy spirit prompted me to do something I had never done before. I was at my local nail shop getting my nails done and I noticed a young girl beside me glancing over quite a few times. She kept smiling and saying nice comments about my clothes and how pretty I looked. Something told me I had to listen and give her some extra attention. I normally just smile and say thank you but I felt God tugging on my heart to ask her a few questions. I started to look closely at her face and noticed that the area around her eye was dark like a black eye and it was swollen. Then I really leaned in and she spilled out her life in front of me of how her mom is an alcoholic, and her dad abandoned her, how her boyfriend hits her, how she feels alone and lost. So at this point I felt the need to tell her how I could relate to her story and how God saved my own life and now I'm overflowing with his blessings. I did an unusual thing and invited her to come along with me to the gym to work out. This was a blessing to her because I listened to her, gave her words of encouragement, and she just cried while I was talking. I noticed that I was expecting a little more of Christ like behavior from her and I stopped myself at that exact point. Why was I expecting mature and Christ-like behavior from this young broken girl when she had not met Christ yet? So I did the right thing and just listened with my heart to her story, offered some of my similar events that had occured in my own life, and I shared how God changed everything around in my life. She accepted to come to church with me on Sunday which I am so thankful for. I am noticing that I am changing. If I only stop and listen to the nudge of God telling me to listen to others and stop expecting them to be so perfect, I will be blessed.

Thu, May 7, 2009 @ 8:55 AM

6. Heather Calderon wrote:
I never thought that I was one to poke around and be nosy in my boyfriend's "personal" space, but when Pastor Ken brought the word this past Sunday, I was forced to sit back in my seat and pay full attention. Especially when he brought out the envelopes. Coming from an abusive family background, I truly never learned how to properly communicate with people and what I saw from my parent's actions was that anger=violence. And that's how I've always responded when I was angry, I either threw something or full-on smacked my boyfriend. Listening to the sermon and reading Ephesians 5 taught me that, I'm to submit to him as I do to Christ and to RESPECT him and he will LOVE me as Christ loved the church.

So this past week, I've taken care to remember the words that Pastor Ken spoke, I even put them on my myspace for others to see and learn, and I've taken the time to make sure my boyfriend understands that not only do I love him with my whole heart and soul, but that I respect him with the same amount. And honestly, it has spoken to him as well. He's been more loving and dedicated this past week than the weeks and months before. So in my mind's eye, God spoke to me thru Pastor Ken, to help me see what it was that I was understanding about my boyfriend.
It's AMAZING!! :)

Thu, May 7, 2009 @ 1:58 PM

7. David Ochoa wrote:
Pastor Kens words on sunday really hit home... it made so much sense and litterally spoke to EVERYONE in their own way. But for me it helpped understand some frustration i have with my girlfriend. That and to understand a little bit more about my step father.

Thu, May 7, 2009 @ 3:27 PM

8. Darrel Wilson wrote:
The thing is... I tend to receive a plethora of junk mail and many times just toss it to the side because I'm not familiar with the sender or think that its not worth my time. Could it be that I've missed out on many blessings that weren't expected?
Its true that as a man I want to be respected. However, respect I dont believe anymore that such a thing is so hard to come by. Walking in such a manner that is righteous and showing love to all means that the most respected man ever will being emulated. Isn't that what we as men want to achieve? I know I do.

Mon, May 11, 2009 @ 2:10 PM

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