Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:12-14 NIV)
This morning, these verses reminded me of an experience I had this past Friday. What happened? I was in line at the grocery store when someone
came up to me just as I was about to slide my credit card to pay for my
groceries and said, "Have you heard of pay it forward? I'd like to buy
your groceries for you." Now, I had just run out to pick up one thing,
so it wasn't as though the expense was great, but the fact that a
perfect stranger wanted to do that for me made a real impact. I didn't need the money. It was no hardship to pay for the small item myself. But I had
been having a bit of a rough day, and it was like God in human clothes
reached down to me and said, "It's okay. I love you and everything will
be all right!"
Why has this never occurred to me before? When I've looked to give someone groceries, for instance, I've looked for someone who "needs it". But is it the financial status of the person or the inner being that has the more important need? "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Sam 16:7 NIV) Surely it can be of value to give to someone who physically needs it, but I can't discount the value of those who don't "need it" in that way. Some of the people I know that most need a loving touch are quite well-to-do financially, but are very "poor in spirit".
What a marvelous thing - to be the hands and voice of God in touching another person's life! How might I better incorporate this into my life? What might I be able to do for a perfect stranger to lift their spirits and brighten their day and be the hand that shows God's love to them? Who are "the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind" in my life? And how might I give them a "banquet"? How might I bless those who cannot repay me? The example someone gave me in the grocery store is one way. What are some other possibilities? I remember seeing a story on TV about someone who started writing "love letters" to strangers. The story really impacted me and is told briefly here. Another source of ideas is the Random Acts of Kindness website.
Father, what would you have ME do? What can I do today to touch the life of a stranger? "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Heb 13:2 KJV) "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (Matt 25:40 NIV)
Father, my heart is so moved at the thought of what various people are doing for strangers throughout the world! May I look for opportunities to be a channel of your love to those around me. May I listen to your nudge in my spirit and may that nudge be more important to me than anything else I may be doing! Thank you, Father, for the opportunities you give to make a difference!
Why has this never occurred to me before? When I've looked to give someone groceries, for instance, I've looked for someone who "needs it". But is it the financial status of the person or the inner being that has the more important need? "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Sam 16:7 NIV) Surely it can be of value to give to someone who physically needs it, but I can't discount the value of those who don't "need it" in that way. Some of the people I know that most need a loving touch are quite well-to-do financially, but are very "poor in spirit".
What a marvelous thing - to be the hands and voice of God in touching another person's life! How might I better incorporate this into my life? What might I be able to do for a perfect stranger to lift their spirits and brighten their day and be the hand that shows God's love to them? Who are "the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind" in my life? And how might I give them a "banquet"? How might I bless those who cannot repay me? The example someone gave me in the grocery store is one way. What are some other possibilities? I remember seeing a story on TV about someone who started writing "love letters" to strangers. The story really impacted me and is told briefly here. Another source of ideas is the Random Acts of Kindness website.
Father, what would you have ME do? What can I do today to touch the life of a stranger? "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Heb 13:2 KJV) "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (Matt 25:40 NIV)
Father, my heart is so moved at the thought of what various people are doing for strangers throughout the world! May I look for opportunities to be a channel of your love to those around me. May I listen to your nudge in my spirit and may that nudge be more important to me than anything else I may be doing! Thank you, Father, for the opportunities you give to make a difference!
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This blog is simply a sharing of my "daily bread" - my daily walk with God. If something I've said has touched your heart, or sparked a new thought, I'd love to hear from you.