Transformational Thought
Early one Sunday morning, I was shopping at the local food store. As I approached the checkout line, I noticed a young man in front of me with a bicycle helmet still on his head; he was carrying two large vegetable platters. I asked him; “Are you planning on carrying all that on your bike?” He tapped his ear letting me know he was deaf. I watched as he double and triple bagged his purchase. As I was checking out I saw him leave the parking lot. He had two bags on one handle grip and one bag on the other. He was in a hurry.
On my way home, about three miles from the store, I saw the young man struggling to ride his bike in a straight line. The handles on one of the plastic bags had broken…and he was trying to hold it in his arm while steering the bike with the other hand. I pulled over to help; when he saw me he was thrilled. With no words spoken he quickly opened the passenger door and placed the vegetable trays on the seat. He pulled out a small pad of paper and wrote the cross streets of his destination. We were headed to his church which was another three miles away.
Met him at the church. He jumped off his bike and ran to get the pastor. It was a church for the deaf and he wanted the pastor to interpret his sign language for me. His name was Tony. He thanked me repeatedly and told me that when the handle broke, he knew God would send help. The church was having a luncheon following worship and the vegetable trays were Tony’s contribution. The pastor told me that Tony lived 12 miles from the church.
I left the church filled with happiness and thankfulness for the experience God had placed in front of me that Sunday morning. I had moved to that new town just one month prior to meeting Tony. I had not attended a worship service since arriving there. Laziness was only excuse. We often put our wants above our real needs, especially our spiritual needs. Then we wonder why we aren’t getting what we need and act so surprised!
A few months following that experience, I met Tony again at a local coffee shop. When he recognized me he gave me a big hug, grabbed my hand and took me to the store window. He pointed to a late model car parked at the curb and then pointed back at himself … Tony had his first car and he was filled with pride and joy.
Today, think about how much effort you put forth to praise God with others. Do you find time for God with only minimal effort, or when it fits into your schedule? Or do you sacrifice some of your “wants” to make regular time with God? How important is it to you to make it to church? How far would you pedal? What are you willing to endure to worship God and meet Him each day?
Prayer
Father God, I thank You for the little and not so little reminders and lessons you place before me for the taking. Today, I have a renewed thankfulness for my ability to see … to hear … to speak. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, Father, so that I may use all my senses to give you glory and to praise You … to further Your Kingdom here on earth even in ways that I do not understand. I pray this in the name of my savior and teacher, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all
2 Corinthians 13:14
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Stepping Stones: Jesus: Equal Opportunity Savior
Transformational Thought
Boring. What a terrible word. Who wants to be called boring? Most of our activities are pursued so we can avoid either being a bored person or a boring person. Spice things up, inject some excitement, plan a trip, go back to school, change our hairstyle, try a new restaurant, re-paint a room.
Having said this, our natural tendency as human beings is to be attracted to sameness and routine and to resist all that is different. We like to go the same places for vacation, eat or drink the “usual” when we go to a restaurant, wear a certain style of clothes all the time, drive the same route to work … we don’t throw in or like many curveballs in any area of life.
We tend to marry and congregate with people who are like us … the same color, culture, political party, religious belief, social level, or income bracket. We tend to mistrust, resist, and even fear anyone who is different.
People often judge others by what is seen on the outside. We lump everyone from a particular racial or cultural group into one basket. We shun one another and, at times, even war against each other based solely on racial identity. How sad.
You see, because of our fallen state, several character traits lead to these ungodly reactions. To compensate for our inadequacies and insecurities, we falsely elevate ourselves by putting others down. We often fear what we don’t understand. So instead of trying to understand it, we avoid it. Because we are psychologically lazy, our willingness to more fully understand others, or to take time to get to know them, is limited.
Aren't you glad Jesus doesn't see us that way? He loves us regardless of our race or culture, appearance or activities, career or income. He searches every heart. He is interested in what's inside. He visited and hung out with all kinds of people … always looking deeper … beyond the surface. Why? Because He always starts with love.
Today, examine what you first see when you engage with another person. Do you see their need for a relationship with God? What makes you tentative about loving them fully? Ask Jesus to help you search other people's hearts and see them through God’s eyes ... as God's creation … designed in His image. Jesus gave His life for people of all races and cultures. He sees everyone through eyes of love and compassion. He looks beyond faults to needs. It is time for us to let go of our prejudices and see others as Jesus does.
Prayer
Dear Father God, Help me to see others through the eyes of Jesus. Reveal to me any prejudices I may have hidden in my heart. Forgive me, and help me to let go of those prejudices and the walls they create. Help me to stop looking at the outside and to truly look deeper into their lives. I pray this and all prayers in the name of the One who searches all hearts, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!
The Truth
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.
1 Chronicles 28:9
Boring. What a terrible word. Who wants to be called boring? Most of our activities are pursued so we can avoid either being a bored person or a boring person. Spice things up, inject some excitement, plan a trip, go back to school, change our hairstyle, try a new restaurant, re-paint a room.
Having said this, our natural tendency as human beings is to be attracted to sameness and routine and to resist all that is different. We like to go the same places for vacation, eat or drink the “usual” when we go to a restaurant, wear a certain style of clothes all the time, drive the same route to work … we don’t throw in or like many curveballs in any area of life.
We tend to marry and congregate with people who are like us … the same color, culture, political party, religious belief, social level, or income bracket. We tend to mistrust, resist, and even fear anyone who is different.
People often judge others by what is seen on the outside. We lump everyone from a particular racial or cultural group into one basket. We shun one another and, at times, even war against each other based solely on racial identity. How sad.
You see, because of our fallen state, several character traits lead to these ungodly reactions. To compensate for our inadequacies and insecurities, we falsely elevate ourselves by putting others down. We often fear what we don’t understand. So instead of trying to understand it, we avoid it. Because we are psychologically lazy, our willingness to more fully understand others, or to take time to get to know them, is limited.
Aren't you glad Jesus doesn't see us that way? He loves us regardless of our race or culture, appearance or activities, career or income. He searches every heart. He is interested in what's inside. He visited and hung out with all kinds of people … always looking deeper … beyond the surface. Why? Because He always starts with love.
Today, examine what you first see when you engage with another person. Do you see their need for a relationship with God? What makes you tentative about loving them fully? Ask Jesus to help you search other people's hearts and see them through God’s eyes ... as God's creation … designed in His image. Jesus gave His life for people of all races and cultures. He sees everyone through eyes of love and compassion. He looks beyond faults to needs. It is time for us to let go of our prejudices and see others as Jesus does.
Prayer
Dear Father God, Help me to see others through the eyes of Jesus. Reveal to me any prejudices I may have hidden in my heart. Forgive me, and help me to let go of those prejudices and the walls they create. Help me to stop looking at the outside and to truly look deeper into their lives. I pray this and all prayers in the name of the One who searches all hearts, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!
The Truth
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.
1 Chronicles 28:9
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