#20 Peeta Mellark

There’s this cheesy love story I’m not sure you’ve heard of or not between a guy named Peeta and a girl named Katniss.  I tend to scoff at romance stories, but this one took me by surprise.  From the very beginning of the story, Peeta sacrifices himself over and over to love Katniss, when often she doesn’t love him back. 

I was struck by his self-sacrifice, and wrote this in my journal:

Every word I speak to anybody should imply: “How can I serve You, Lord?”

Every action and every string of thoughts should all be directly serving Jesus and the people He has made.  That serving transcends all dreams and aspirations that well up in my mind.

When I feel the Spirit in me, when I’m tired and want to cry, when I’m feeling overjoyed or depressed, when people aren’t there or when there’s a crowd, I should serve.

Oh Jesus, I pray for the grace to do this in my life.  My whole life, each part, straight for You, to serve You Jesus. 

But then I was struck all over again to realize that Peeta reflects how Jesus loves me.  Jesus loves me like Peeta loved Katniss, except Jesus loves me way, way more.  I want to be like Peeta toward the Lord, but ultimately the Lord is more like Peeta to me. 

The funny thing is that even though the role I was hoping for seems to already be taken, I’m only that much more motivated to serve and love the Lord more fully.  Psalm 119:55 in the NLT says “I reflect at night on who You are, O LORD; therefore, I obey Your instructions.”  When I ponder the Lord’s character, my motivation to follow Him skyrockets.