Larger Than Life

​Consuello is a big man, not just in size but in heart.  He lettered in three high school sports—track, football and basketball.  His last second shot sent his team to the state championship in basketball.  In football he was the defensive player of the year for four straight years earning a scholarship to play college football.  At the transitional age of 13, his mother died. She inspired him to see the best in people regardless of the situation.  One powerful example she set was in sending her divorced husband’s new wife a birthday card every year. Consuello could not understand why she would do this so she taught him the value and importance of respect.  She did not fault the other woman or let bitterness spoil her kind disposition.

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Born August 20, 1971, Consuello’s name means comforter to others.  He says, “Friendliness was not only something that was prophesied over me at birth, but something that I grew into daily as I found myself meeting new people and experiencing life . . . We should always strive to find the best in one another because that will show us who we really are . . . I believe our world will be a better place if everyone understood this term and practiced it everyday.”  
Truly, he is one of the friendliest people I know and, because of his consistently warm attitude, he is a beloved leader.  Besides leading as a pastor, Consuello is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves, a loving father and husband. He reminds me of Jesus.  He puts the heart in hospitality, affection in affability, genuineness in being genial, realness in relating and warmth in welcoming.  He truly cares!  
 
Meditation
Mark 9:37--Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent Me.
 
Jesus’ disciples were arguing with one another about who was the greatest while traveling to Capernaum.  Instead of scolding them, Jesus gave them an object lesson.  He took a child, had him stand in their midst for comparison purposes and then took him into His arms before uttering the verse above.  An amazing number of lessons come out of this short passage.

Great leaders don’t compete to be great.  They don’t posture for power.  They understand that their value comes from the way they treat others.  To give attention to a child is demeaning to an adult who thinks he or she is far too important to waste time with a youngster.  But do we want to follow a leader who has no time for kids?  

Did you know that genuine (not the agenda-hiding kind) friendliness is a mark of humility?  When we take the time to be friendly we are sending a message of the great worth of the people around us.  Jesus, the Messiah, loved children—both sick and healthy, lame and laughing.  He made time for them.  Why?  Because He was humble and He saw the inherent value in each person.  He was not too busy with ministryto take time to minister.  Hmm.  I suspect there are a lot of leaders too inflated with their importance to give time to play with their own children.  The consequence of this self-centeredness is turning off their offspring to wanting anything to do with following Christ.  Do you think that makes God angry?
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How’s your attitude?  Are you friendly?  Are you blessing people with your Jesus-fueled warmth?  I hope so.  God’s kingdom is a friendly kingdom created by a loving Father.   Something to think about . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration
Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.—C.S. Lewis
 
©2018 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)