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The blessings that God has bestowed upon us are not meant to be used solely
for our benefit, but are to be shared so that others may benefit from what
God has freely given us. We are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves
and be quick to lend a helping hand and share the Love of God towards all
who are in need. The Lord Jesus declares in Matthew 10:8 "...freely ye
have received, freely give." Never believe the lie that you should only
care about yourself and not take interest in what others are going through.
The Lord tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the widows
and fatherless, and simply do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
Be encouraged to do all you can with what you have and do not worry about
the results because it is God who brings results in ways that we have never
imagined. (Matthew 5:43-48) (Matthew 25:34-40) (James 1:27) (Luke 6:30-36)
I hope you are encouraged by today's message and not keep what God has
given you only for yourself, but share and give and allow the love of God
to shine brightly through your life.
STONE SOUP
Many years ago three soldiers, hungry and weary of battle, came upon a
small village. The villagers, suffering a meager harvest and the many years
of war, quickly hid what little they had to eat and met the three at the
village square, wringing their hands and bemoaning the lack of anything to eat.
The soldiers spoke quietly among themselves and the first soldier then
turned to the village elders. "Your tired fields have left you nothing to
share, so we will share what little we have: the secret of how to make soup
from stones."
Naturally the villagers were intrigued and soon a fire was put to the
town's greatest kettle as the soldiers dropped in three smooth stones.
"Now this will be a fine soup", said the second soldier; "but a pinch of
salt and some parsley would make it wonderful!" Up jumped a villager,
crying "What luck! I've just remembered where some has been left!" And off
she ran, returning with an apron full of parsley and a turnip. As the
kettle boiled on, the memory of the village improved: soon barley, carrots,
beef and cream had found their way into the great pot, and a cask of wine
was rolled into the square as all sat down to feast.
They ate and danced and sang well into the night, refreshed by the feast
and their new-found friends. In the morning the three soldiers awoke to
find the entire village standing before them. At their feet lay a satchel
of the village's best breads and cheese. "You have given us the greatest
of gifts: the secret of how to make soup from stones", said an elder, "and
we shall never forget." The third soldier turned to the crowd, and said:
"There is no secret, but this is certain: it is only by sharing that we
may make a feast". And off the soldiers wandered, down the road.
Author Unknown
Be encouraged to open your heart and share with others what God has freely
given you. Our possessions will not be with us a hundred years from now,
but what we do for others in the name of the Lord will be a shining
reminder that our heart and life belonged to God while we were on the
earth. The Bible declares in James 4:14, "...for what is your life? It is
even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
Life on earth is short no matter how long it may seem in the natural and we
should be quick to remember that helping others and sharing what we have
been given is a true testament that our eyes are focused on things above
and not on the materialistic things of this world. (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)
(Matthew 6:19-21) (Colossians 3:23-24) (1 John 4:11-13) (Mark 8:34-38)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Hebrews 13:1-3 "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember
them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity
as being yourselves also in the body."
1 John 3:15-18 "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know
that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the
love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay
down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and
seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from
him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not
love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
Colossians 3:23-24 "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord,
and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of
the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: THE SMILE SMARTER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem161.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: WHO WILL DELIVER ME?
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony112.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
