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I am a firm believer in having a giving spirit because in eternity the only
thing that we will have to show Almighty God is how we treated our brothers
and sisters who were in need. There are many moments in life when we get
distracted with life's challenges that we tend to forget about those that
are not as fortune as we are. It is important that we remember the
suffering and downhearted and try our best to make a difference in their
life. We will be showing the Love and compassion of Jesus Christ and will
receive a just reward for treating others the way we ourselves would want
to be treated. (Revelation 20:11-12) (Luke 10:25-37) (Luke 6:27-36)
I hope you enjoy and are ministered to by this story.
THE DINNER GUEST
Ruth went to her mailbox and there was only one letter. She picked it up
and looked at it before opening it. There was no stamp, no post-mark, only
her name and address. She read the letter:
Dear Ruth,
I'm going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to
stop by for a visit.
Love Always,
Jesus
Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would
the LORD want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to
offer." With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets.
"Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to go
to the store and buy something for dinner."
She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and
forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least." She
threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of bread, a half pound
of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk. This left Ruth with a grand total
of twelve cents to last her until Monday.
Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home with her meager offerings
tucked under her arm. "Hey Lady can you help us?" Ruth had been so
absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't noticed two figures huddled in
the alleyway.
A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags. "Miss,
I don't have a job. My wife and I have been living out here on the streets.
Now its getting cold and we're kind of hungry. If you could help us Lady
we would appreciate it."
Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly
she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted
to. "Sir, I'd like to help you but I am a poor woman myself. All I have
is a few cold cuts, some bread and a carton of milk. I am having an
important guest for dinner tonight. I was planning on serving that to
Him." "Yeah okay Lady, I understand. Thanks anyway."
The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back
into the alley. As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in
her heart. "Sir, Wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down
the alley after them.
"Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to
serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag. "Thank you Lady.
Thank you very much." "Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife speaking.
Ruth could see now how she was shivering. "You know, I've got another
coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one?" Ruth unbuttoned her
jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders. Then smiling she turned
and walked back to the street, without her coat and with nothing to serve
her guest. "Thank you Lady! Thank you very much!"
Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door. She was worried
too. The LORD was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer
HIM. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. As she did, she
noticed another envelope in her mailbox. "That is odd. The mailman doesn't
come twice in one day." She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.
Dear Ruth,
It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal and for
the beautiful coat.
Love Always,
Jesus
The air was still cold but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.
Author Unknown
Even though this story may not be factual, it holds a great truth that
confirms God's Word where we read, "It is more blessed to give than it is
to receive." Freely giving of ourselves is proof to this world that our Joy
isn't based upon material possessions, but rather is based upon the Peace
and Love that God has placed in our hearts. (Acts 20:35)
I pray that today's message has spoken to your heart to try your best to be
a blessing to someone else in need. God doesn't give us our talents and
abilities solely for the purpose of being blessed, but also to be a
blessing towards others. I encourage you to be a blessing and show the
Jesus that lives within you openly with the rest of the world. (Matthew 5:16)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Matthew 25:37-40 Jesus declares, "Then the righteous will answer Him,
saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and
give You drink? 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked
and clothe You? 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to
You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you,
inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did
it to Me.'"
1 John 4:7-11 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and
everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does
not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested
toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we
might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that
He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved,
if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
Hebrews 13:1-3 "Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain
strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them-those who are mistreated
-since you yourselves are in the body also."
John 13:34-35 Jesus declares, "A new commandment I give to you, that you
love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By
this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one
another."
All scriptures can be found in the New King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: REPUTATION AND CHARACTER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem177.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: IT IS NOT WRONG TO WAIT
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony117.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
