Make a Difference!
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God-even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)"
I want to tell you about a lady I met this morning. Although she probably would not mind, I am going to keep her name in confidence. She was working at a store I went to. As I was waiting, she and I began talking. I felt such a compassion for her, that I cannot begin to explain it except that it was just Jesus! She is a single mom and struggles day to day. Her ex-husband is not working so she is trying to make it on her own. We continued to talk and then I left. When I got to my car, I could not leave. I felt such a prompting deep within to go back into the store where she was. I knew God was speaking to me. I also "just happened" to have a book in my car that was exactly what she needed. (I put those two words in quotations because you and I both know God already had this entire situation planned). I went back into the store and told her God put her own my heart and I wanted to give her a gift. I handed her the book and a little bit of money. The look on that precious woman's face was priceless! I will tell you my friend, that I was blessed far more than that woman! The love that swelled up in my heart was more than anything I could ever buy.
Why did I tell you this story, you may be asking yourself? I did it not because I wanted you to think I was somebody special, but because our God is that special! He cares about the intimate details of our lives and He uses us to bless others! Sure, He could rain down blessings from heaven on whomever He chooses, but as I continue to grow in Him, I find that most often, He uses people to bless others. The only thing He requires is that we are obedient when He asks us to do something. What He asks you to do may seem small at times, but I can assure you, to the one on the receiving end of the blessing-it is not small! We also cannot see inside the hearts and minds of others...we don't know what the Holy Spirit is doing in someone's heart. What if someone you helped today or gave money to had prayed a prayer like, "God if You are real, show me." We just have no idea, but I can tell you one thing for sure. Everything that we do for the kingdom of God is what really matters and has eternal value-all else will be burned up. "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver , costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)."
I don't know about you, but I don't want to have even the slightest smell of fire on me when I stand before My King! I don't want to be one who just barely escaped through the flames. No! I want to have crowns to lay at the feet of my Lord and Savior! I want to hear Him one day say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant! (Matthew 25:21)"
Friend, we are here for God's glory! We were created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16). God could have taken us all home once we became His, but He chose to leave us here so that we could be a light for Him and share the love of Christ to those who don't know Him. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16)."
God blesses us so that we can be a blessing, not so that we just keep it all to ourselves. He is our supply and He promises that as we seek Him first and His righteousness, all the other things (food, clothing and shelter) will be added. It is however, learning as Paul did, to be content in any and every situation because God is the One who gives us our strength (Philippians 4:12) and He is our peace. As we give, God will meet our own needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13).
Today, go and be a blessing to someone! Make a difference in someone's life! And remember these words: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24)
I want to tell you about a lady I met this morning. Although she probably would not mind, I am going to keep her name in confidence. She was working at a store I went to. As I was waiting, she and I began talking. I felt such a compassion for her, that I cannot begin to explain it except that it was just Jesus! She is a single mom and struggles day to day. Her ex-husband is not working so she is trying to make it on her own. We continued to talk and then I left. When I got to my car, I could not leave. I felt such a prompting deep within to go back into the store where she was. I knew God was speaking to me. I also "just happened" to have a book in my car that was exactly what she needed. (I put those two words in quotations because you and I both know God already had this entire situation planned). I went back into the store and told her God put her own my heart and I wanted to give her a gift. I handed her the book and a little bit of money. The look on that precious woman's face was priceless! I will tell you my friend, that I was blessed far more than that woman! The love that swelled up in my heart was more than anything I could ever buy.
Why did I tell you this story, you may be asking yourself? I did it not because I wanted you to think I was somebody special, but because our God is that special! He cares about the intimate details of our lives and He uses us to bless others! Sure, He could rain down blessings from heaven on whomever He chooses, but as I continue to grow in Him, I find that most often, He uses people to bless others. The only thing He requires is that we are obedient when He asks us to do something. What He asks you to do may seem small at times, but I can assure you, to the one on the receiving end of the blessing-it is not small! We also cannot see inside the hearts and minds of others...we don't know what the Holy Spirit is doing in someone's heart. What if someone you helped today or gave money to had prayed a prayer like, "God if You are real, show me." We just have no idea, but I can tell you one thing for sure. Everything that we do for the kingdom of God is what really matters and has eternal value-all else will be burned up. "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver , costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)."
I don't know about you, but I don't want to have even the slightest smell of fire on me when I stand before My King! I don't want to be one who just barely escaped through the flames. No! I want to have crowns to lay at the feet of my Lord and Savior! I want to hear Him one day say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant! (Matthew 25:21)"
Friend, we are here for God's glory! We were created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16). God could have taken us all home once we became His, but He chose to leave us here so that we could be a light for Him and share the love of Christ to those who don't know Him. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16)."
God blesses us so that we can be a blessing, not so that we just keep it all to ourselves. He is our supply and He promises that as we seek Him first and His righteousness, all the other things (food, clothing and shelter) will be added. It is however, learning as Paul did, to be content in any and every situation because God is the One who gives us our strength (Philippians 4:12) and He is our peace. As we give, God will meet our own needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13).
Today, go and be a blessing to someone! Make a difference in someone's life! And remember these words: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24)
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