Week 3 - Easy Mode

If I had to label the generation I consider myself to be brought up in, it would be the Nintendo generation. Which means there is a special place in my heart for classic video games, such as The Legend of Zelda, Mario Bros, Contra, and the list goes on and on. Some games had the option to play in easy, medium, or hard mode which lead me to my little secret strategy of playing the games in easy mode, just so I can have bragging rights the next day at school. So come the next day, and just like clockwork, the moment I tell my friends about my victory in beating a game, they would immediately ask if I had beat it in hard mode,because that where it really counts, as if beating the game at all was not good enough. And why is it, that sometimes it feels like we have accomplished something, and there is someone right there reminding us that we took the easy way out, like since when is doing things the easy way such a bad thing?

After I confessed about my choice to beat the game in easy mode, my friends would then inform me about the many different outcomes, treasures, and cool bonus materials you get when choosing to tough it out through hard mode. As followers of Jesus Christ, we to have this easy or hard mode presented to us and our Lord already tells us upfront the blessing that comes from doing that which seems hard to do. Lets breathe in Luke 6:32-35 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

So you’re nice and helpful to those you know best, so you go out of your way for those who might give you praise, wonderful you’re right up there with the wicked that do the same. Loving those who don’t even know how to love you in return is living life in hard mode, but our Lord and Savior is telling us of the great reward we receive when living out and applying the hard choice. It’s that kind of sacrifice and living that leads us to look like Christ, for he is kind to the ungrateful. I know this to be true because my dear friends, I was one of those ungrateful people, and he showed me mercy, hope, and love. For that, I am truly grateful Christ defeated sin in hard mode, because the reward in the end, (living in eternity with you) in his eyes was worth it.

I know its hard to love those who are ungrateful, believe you and me I prefer my ways of the easy mode. But this world desperately needs brave Men and woman who will breathe in Luke 6:32, and select hard mode. The reward is always better.

Q: When was the last time you chose to select hard mode and love on those who didn’t deserve it?

Prayer: “Lord of Hosts, I come to you asking for the strength to make those hard choices in my life that truly allow me to shine your loving light towards those who need it. Show me why i am willing to choose the easy mode when it comes to putting others before myself, I thank you for loving me, and showing me mercy when i too was ungrateful -Amen"