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The blessings that we bestow towards others are not only beneficial to the
recipient, but will also return to benefit us, the givers. The blessing
will not always return in the same manner to which it was sent, but can
return in different ways. The blessing can return in ways like a lesson
learned, gratefulness to the Lord for being blessed enough to be a blessing
and can also remind us that compassion and kindness truly fills our hearts.
The Lord has many ways to affirm in our hearts that He is pleased with our
intentions of being a blessing when the opportunity arises. I encourage you
to partake in the benefits of being Christlike in your compassion, kindness
and love towards those around you. (1 Peter 3:8-11) (Matthew 5:14-16)
I hope this message ministers to your heart and shows you what great
benefits there are in being helpful when the opportunity arises.
KINDNESS OF A STRANGER
It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old
man's beard was glazed by winter's frost while he waited for a ride across
the river. The wait seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from
the frigid north wind.
He heard the faint, steady rhythm of approaching hooves galloping along the
frozen path. Anxiously, he watched as several horsemen rounded the bend.
He let the first one pass by without an effort to get his attention. Then
another passed by, and another.
Finally, the last rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow
statue. As this one drew near, the old man caught the rider's eye and
said, "Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side?
There doesn't appear to be a passageway by foot."
Reining his horse, the rider replied, "Sure thing. Hop aboard." Seeing the
old man was unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the
horseman dismounted and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman
took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination, which
was just a few miles away.
As they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman's curiosity caused
him to inquire, "Sir, I notice that you let several other riders pass by
without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and you
immediately asked me for a ride. I'm curious why, on such a bitter winter
night; you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and
left you there?"
The old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse, looked the rider
straight in the eyes, and replied, "I've been around these here parts for
some time. I reckon I know people pretty good." The old-timer continued,
I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was
no concern for my situation. It would have been useless even to ask them
for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, kindness and compassion were
evident. I knew, then and there, that your gentle spirit would welcome the
opportunity to give me assistance in my time of need."
Those heartwarming comments touched the horseman deeply. "I'm most grateful
for what you have said," he told the old man. "May I never get too busy in
my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness
and compassion."
With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back
to the White House.
Author Unknown
We need to keep love and kindness at the center of our lives because there
are people watching to see if we are practicing what we preach. If our
lives truly belong to God, then we are to love one another as He has
commanded. A lawyer once asked the Lord Jesus Christ what is the greatest
commandment? His response was this; "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the
first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law
and the prophets." (1 John 4:7-12) (Matthew 22:34-40) (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
I encourage you to remember the Lord's command to love your neighbor as
yourself and allow your life to be the tool to which God's hand can reach
through to touch someone else.
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 John 4:7-11 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and
every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not
knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God
toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that
we might live through Him. Herein 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 ought also to love one another."
Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus declares, "Ye are the light of the world. A city
that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and
put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all
that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
1 Peter 3:8-11 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for
evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye
are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will
love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his
lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him
seek peace, and ensue it."
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: HOPE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem31.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: TESTIMONY OF GOD'S LOVE
Click here to read --- http://www.godswork.org/testimony150.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
