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We should always do our best to treat others the same way we would like to
be treated and be quick to lend a helping hand when we see the opportunity.
The Bible declares in Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectionate to one another
with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” It is
easy for anyone to only care for their own interests, but as children of
the Lord, we are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves. The above
Scripture tells us to give preference to one another meaning to favor them
and give them an advantage that otherwise they would not receive. With
the many advantages that God has given to us, we must also in turn share
what we have been given freely with others. Our simple gestures of love
do speak louder than any words can and when we show our care through our
acts of love, God smiles down and is proud of how we are leading our life.
I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to stand up for
those who can't stand up for themselves. Be the voice of the voiceless
and allow the light that is within your heart to shine brightly where all
can see the good that comes from within you.
AN UNLIKELY PAIR
On a recent trip to the grocery store, I stopped at the Customer Service
counter to pick up pictures I'd left for developing. As I held out my
pickup ticket for the clerk, an elderly gentleman placed an empty water
container on the counter beside me. The clerk told him he had to go to the
back of the line and wait if he wanted his deposit back for the large and
cumbersome container.
The gentleman asked if he could leave the container with the clerk and
pick up his deposit after he'd done his shopping. She said no, he had to
go to the back of the line and wait.
The gentleman was very polite. The clerk was not.
I stepped back from the counter and told the gentleman he could go ahead
of me. Miffed at the clerk's rudeness and full of bravado, I turned to ask
the people in line behind me if they would mind. I was sure they wouldn't.
The strong tone of voice I intended to use came out very weak when I turned
and faced the person directly in line behind me. He was a large structure
of a man. A good six feet tall, he sported a bandanna on his head, a big
bushy beard, tattooed arms the size of rain barrels and a leather vest
adorned with large silver chains.
“You don't mind if I let this gentleman go ahead of us - do you?” I asked
rather meekly.
“Not at all. Not at all,” he bellowed. “You go right on ahead young
fella.” His tone was so sincere I immediately felt foolish for letting his
appearance intimidate me.
In the course of ten whole seconds, the elderly gentleman received his
deposit from the clerk and was on his way. Once again, I stepped up to the
counter and handed the clerk my pickup ticket.
While she was ringing up my purchase she said, “I don't know what's with
these old people. They think they can just walk right up to the counter
and get served ahead of everybody else.”
I placed both my hands on the counter and looked her straight in the eyes,
“You know what's 'with' this particular gentleman? He looks close to
eighty, we could all see he had difficulty walking, and you know what?
He's stood in enough lines for one lifetime. He's put in his time, and as
long as there are people who respect his age, he doesn't have to stand in
line anymore.”
“That's right!” boomed the voice behind me, which sent me two feet off the
floor and halfway out of my skin. “That's right!” he repeated.
I turned around and faced the big man once again. He wasn't finished
speaking. “That young fella's stood in his fair share of lines. He's done
his time, he has. He's done his time.”
I laughed and stuck out my hand, “I like your attitude sir.”
The big man gripped my hand, “I like yours too, little lady.”
The clerk's mind was unreadable, but her face looked pale and pinched as I
picked up my pictures and got out of the way for her next customer.
The big man and I were an unlikely pair, appearance wise, but when your
heart's in the right place, the likeliest things are bound to happen.
By Terri McPherson
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Romans 12:19-21 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give
place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith
the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give
him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be
not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Matthew 5:43-45 Jesus declares “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall
love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your
enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray
for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of
your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the
good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Galatians 6:1-4 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so
fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when
he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work,
and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through
and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor
steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem84.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: THE DAY THE ANGELS REJOICED
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony133.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
