Aim for the Bulls Eye
Therefore, we make it our aim. . .to be well pleasing to Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:9 (NKJV)
David Ax from Calvary Chapel Chino Hills was our speaker in Friday school Chapel this morning. He spoke to us about "aiming for the bulls eye". As followers of Christ we are to stand out from the crowd. One way we can do this is by doing things the RIGHT WAY.
He pointed out that there is a difference between being nice and being kind. Nice means to be pleasing or agreeable. Handing out candy to all the kids at Chapel is nice. Being kind stems from a good or benevolent nature. Kindness is helping someone who has fallen down; encouraging someone who is sad or struggling; or inviting the new kid to join your group. It's a matter of being more involved with the person, spending time with them and maybe even sacrificing to meet the other person's need.
Another example he gave was the difference between caring and compassion. If you care about something you are expressing a concern for someone. You may have heard about the earthquake in Nepal and felt saddened by the stories; but that is as far as it went. Compassion, however, is not just the feeling of of sorrow or sympathy; it is accompanied by a desire to alleviate the suffering. A compassionate person would send money or help an organization pack goods to send or even go themselves to help.
Many can hit the target. David talked to the kids about how they can finish an assignment, but if they didn't do their best, then they missed the bulls eye. He mentioned playing sports. My daughter is playing basketball right now. We talked about how you can win the game (hit the target); but if you show poor sportsmanship or don't give your best, then you've actually lost (missed the bulls eye). Kids who play music may be able to pound out a piece on the piano (hit the target); but if they don't practice to improve, they've missed the bulls eye.
Non believers and Christians alike can hit the target by doing good things. What causes them to miss the bulls eye is the way they do these things or the reason they have for doing them.We might do something out of duty or guilt or because we want to be noticed or congratulated; but that actually negates the "goodness" of the very act we are doing because we are doing it with the wrong motivation. Another way we nullify our actions is when we complain about having to to do them or express how difficult or annoying it was. When we point out how great a sacrifice we have made or how little we were appreciated, I think we have missed the bulls eye.
Jesus exemplified meekness in all He did. He was humbly patient and gentle. He was willing to touch lepers, talk with women, be surrounded by children, and even washed the disciples feet. Jesus displayed humble service in all He did. As His followers, we are called to do the same.
Philippians 2:3-5 admonishes us to "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset of Christ Jesus."
Colossians 3:12 reminds us as God's chosen people, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
If we want to "hit the bulls eye" in our Christian walk, we will seek to do all things with the same attitude as Christ and strive to grow in the character traits He displayed. I don't want to just be a good person who does good things. I want to do all things to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
He pointed out that there is a difference between being nice and being kind. Nice means to be pleasing or agreeable. Handing out candy to all the kids at Chapel is nice. Being kind stems from a good or benevolent nature. Kindness is helping someone who has fallen down; encouraging someone who is sad or struggling; or inviting the new kid to join your group. It's a matter of being more involved with the person, spending time with them and maybe even sacrificing to meet the other person's need.
Another example he gave was the difference between caring and compassion. If you care about something you are expressing a concern for someone. You may have heard about the earthquake in Nepal and felt saddened by the stories; but that is as far as it went. Compassion, however, is not just the feeling of of sorrow or sympathy; it is accompanied by a desire to alleviate the suffering. A compassionate person would send money or help an organization pack goods to send or even go themselves to help.
Many can hit the target. David talked to the kids about how they can finish an assignment, but if they didn't do their best, then they missed the bulls eye. He mentioned playing sports. My daughter is playing basketball right now. We talked about how you can win the game (hit the target); but if you show poor sportsmanship or don't give your best, then you've actually lost (missed the bulls eye). Kids who play music may be able to pound out a piece on the piano (hit the target); but if they don't practice to improve, they've missed the bulls eye.
Non believers and Christians alike can hit the target by doing good things. What causes them to miss the bulls eye is the way they do these things or the reason they have for doing them.We might do something out of duty or guilt or because we want to be noticed or congratulated; but that actually negates the "goodness" of the very act we are doing because we are doing it with the wrong motivation. Another way we nullify our actions is when we complain about having to to do them or express how difficult or annoying it was. When we point out how great a sacrifice we have made or how little we were appreciated, I think we have missed the bulls eye.
Jesus exemplified meekness in all He did. He was humbly patient and gentle. He was willing to touch lepers, talk with women, be surrounded by children, and even washed the disciples feet. Jesus displayed humble service in all He did. As His followers, we are called to do the same.
Philippians 2:3-5 admonishes us to "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset of Christ Jesus."
Colossians 3:12 reminds us as God's chosen people, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.If we want to "hit the bulls eye" in our Christian walk, we will seek to do all things with the same attitude as Christ and strive to grow in the character traits He displayed. I don't want to just be a good person who does good things. I want to do all things to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
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