The Words in Red

There's hardly a person in the country who doesn't know what 'the Words in Red' is. Many people claim to live by them. Few actually act as if they live by them, however. I'm not sure anyone could live by them perfectly. But, there are those who do try. But, what do they mean? When you boil it all down, what do the Words in Red actually mean?

For me, to put all the Words in Red into a single word, it would have to be 'attitude.' Attitude toward God, attitude toward others, attitude toward self. Jesus says He calls us all to be servants. We even say that we serve God. But do we? Are we truly trying to be servants? A servant is the least in the community. Servants don't get words of acclimation, praise or awards. A servant does all the things others don't want to do. The dirty jobs. The lowly jobs. The unspeakable jobs. Servants are mostly unnoticed by those in power or control. There aren't many rewards for being a servant.

Jesus teaches us to revere God. To place God above all things and all people. To love God with every fiber of our being. To obey God without question or hesitancy. He also teaches us that God is our Father, not just a deity to be feared. He is the Provider of all things. He is the Source of all things. He is the Giver of all things. Jesus tells us to take all our worries, all our sorrows, all our triumps, all our praise to God. To give God all the glory. He teaches us that God loves us more than anything else in this universe. That He wants to have a real, true relationship with us. He doesn't want us to be automotons who just blindly do things, but that we give him our hearts and show Him respect, love, praise and acknowledgement for all He has done.

Jesus also teaches us to take care of our brother. To give to those who are in need. To share the load with those who are heavy burdened. Feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless, visit the sick, the widowed, the orphan and the prisoner. To give without expecting anything in return. To help without expecting anything in return. And to allow others to go before us, to sit in a higher place than us, to elevate others above ourselves in all things. And to love everyone without condition and without reservation.

Jesus also teaches us not to be consumed by the things of this world. That the treasures of this world are temporary while the treasures of heaven are eternal. The things the world considers important are not important in the Kingdom of God. Man's greatest desire is gold and jewels, while Heaven paves its streets with gold and builds its wall from jewels. They are the least important things in the Kingdom of God. The things of this world are trash compared to the things of Heaven.

Everything in and of this world is going to pass away. None of it will remain for eternity. Not the money, not the jewels, not the precious metals, not the houses, not the clothing, not the cars, not the fame, not the renown. Nothing of this world will remain for eternity. Only the Kingdom of God will last for eternity. And that's all I'm concerned with. His Kingdom, His Message, His commands, His love, His grace, His mercy, His salvation.