I love to read about Jesus. His wisdom. He sliced up and destroyed the system. The law couldn’t make the comers to it perfect. Yet, Jesus commands, be thou Perfect as your Father in heaven is Perfect. Jesus explains that perfection is found only in living a life in and through Him. Perfection is found in having the capacity to love the unloveable, to show mercy to those who don’t appear to deserve it, being a peacemaker when you want to go to war, being tender hearted with one another and being charitable. I have celebrated a false definition of toughness. I love the word warrior. Vikings and barbarians are celebrated. My flesh enjoys aspects of our entertainment culture. Yet, as I read this morning, I find Jesus’ words to be the epitome of the words, as a man, that represent everything I should aspire to become. Jesus had the power of life and death in His words. Jesus says live and you live. He says die and you die. Yet, when persecuted He said, “Father forgive them they no not what they do.” And, they were forgiven. That’s me by the way. He forgave me. I couldn’t fight my way out of a wet paper bag, but nevertheless, I have boasted “I’ll do this and I’ll do that”. Big Travis gonna fight back. Yea, right, lol. It’s all a show. If Jesus had the power He had and showed mercy and tenderness, certainly I, being powerless in and of myself, should show mercy and tenderness. After this mornings devotion, I will try to limit my conversation to yes and no. I will try to limit my conversations to words that edify and show love and will purpose not to express myself in arrogant ways. I love you Lord and thank you for setting forth a good example for me. If I decrease you can increase in my life. I have no interest in being under the law but in faith declare myself under your Grace.

A testimony Saturday, August 28, 2021