Humility – Page 5 – words from wick

1 Peter 2:19-25

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Wick

It is a sign of grace
If you suffer while doing right
But if you suffer while doing wrong
There’s no reason for you to fight

We don’t do what’s asked of us
In order to pay Caesar’s price
We walk forward humbly in Love
To reveal the Love of Christ

We don’t shake our fist and declare
“Jesus sets us free!
From following laws of men and so
We can live disobediently!”

But if, when showing love
Or offering unmerited grace
We find ourselves being cast aside
Or even just losing face

We look to our example
Christ – who did no wrong
Even though loving others
Put Him in chains He didn’t belong

He endured through suffering
Without demanding His rights
He trusted realities we couldn’t see
When others called Him to fight

By His wounds we have been healed
We, sheep who’d gone astray
So instead of asking “how can I be free?”
We’d ask “how can I Love?” today.

Posted on May 2, 2020 by Wick

We see the mighty shepherd
Rejoice over His sheep
He sings over His flock with Love
Where no predators can creep

But sometimes He shifts His focus
To one whose wandered away
They didn’t stay within the flock
Or listen to what He’d say

His Loving heart compels Him
To go and seek the one
Even after much time has passed
And setting of the sun

His work He won’t have given up
He continues to pursue
No matter whether the sheep turns out
To be a lamb, a ram, or ewe

His eyes filled with emotion
He looks wherever He can
For losing even a single sheep
Wasn’t in His plan

The other sheep grow restless
Safely in their pen
They stamp their hooves indignantly
For the Shepherd to return again

We’ve heard the illustration
Perhaps one too many times
For we too quickly dismiss the fact
We may not be the ninety-nine…

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Wick

“Children”, you called out your men
Asking if they’d caught some fish
Did they wonder who this man was
Who told them sides to switch?

Did you say it playfully
With loving brotherhood?
Or did you try to draw their ire
As if up to no good?

Their response is telling
For they did not get upset
They responded, trying the other side
And came up with overfilled net

Peter threw his clothes on,
and jumped into the water
I wonder if you thought he’d come
Swimming naked as an otter

I’d love to have seen your smile
As he reached the shore, soaking
And the smile that came to his face
As he saw your fire smoking

I’m sure you hugged him fully
Soaking through your clothes
With the kind of compassion
Only a Father knows

I see you every morning
Awaiting me, ashore
I know that you receive me
With a gladness just as pure

I confess that there are days
I stay too long in my boat
Wanting to be productive
Thinking my role is to stay afloat

If I am discouraged
Or have moments a bit too wild
I pray that you’ll call out to me
And begin by yelling – “child”.