Assignment: This week I want you to do something for someone else. Do you have a neighbor that needs you? Do you know an elderly person or single mom that could use you? What about the homeless? Pack even one single sack lunch and give it to someone in need. Do you know someone in blogland that is struggling right now and could use a note from you about how much you care? Pray about this. Let God put on your heart the perfect thing for you to do for another. Now, here is the kicker…I DO NOT want you to post about what you do. Whatever you choose to do is between you and God. Our rewards are in heaven, not here on earth, Mathew 6:1. I want you to post about how doing this “act” made you feel. Was stepping out of your comfort zone in this area as hard as you thought it might be? Could you see the gratefulness in their eyes? Hear it in their voice? Tell it from their typing? Do you think you might make doing things like this a more regular part of your time? If this is an area that you are already active in, tell us how you feel this has impacted your life.
Sometimes the best thing that we can do for someone is to just listen, listen with an open heart and mind. Yet, this can, at times, be one of the most difficult things to do. It’s hard at times to truly listen to someone when you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. But, if we can set aside our cares and give our ourselves, we can often walk away with a different outlook on our own lives.
I know that the Lord uses others to give me a wake up call in my own life. There are times that I get so bogged down in what’s going on around me that I forget how good I really have it. I forget how richly the Lord has blessed us time and time again. I discount the wonderful things that the Lord has done for us. Listening, truly listening, to another during their time of need takes the focus off myself and places it where it should be — on others and on God.
“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” I John 3:23-24
This week, Munchkin and I read the passage about the last supper. The part that struck me the most was when the disciples were bickering over who was the greatest. In Luke 22:25-27, Jesus said this about being the greatest…
“And He said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But not so with you, but let him who is greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.'”
It really made us think about what is really important in life. I know that I need to exhibit more of a servant’s spirit in my own home. The Lord has given me the gift of a beautiful daughter and loving husband. I need to make sure that I am showing my gratefulness by having a servant’s heart.
Amen sistah. I like your passage because it ties right into my thoughts on this too. Thanks for sharing.