From The Word For You Today by Bob Gass
Feb. 10th—Lift Them!
“Jesus stooped down.”
John 8:6 NKJV
Remember the woman “caught in the act” of adultery? The Pharisees stooped to pick up stones. Jesus stooped to pick her up. Which group are you in? You can’t be choosy about who you help. Some of us think we should only help those who believe like we do. No. “Uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Th. 5:14 NKJV).
There is a story about a guy who fell into a pit and couldn’t get out: A subjective person came along and said, “I feel for you down there.” An objective person came along and said, “Well, it’s logical somebody would fall down there.” A Pharisee said, “Only bad people fall into pits.” A judgmental Christian said, “You deserve your pit.” A realist said, “Now that’s a pit.” A geologist told him to appreciate the rock strata in the pit. A tax agent asked him if he was paying taxes on the pit. A self-pitying person said, “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.” An optimist said, “Things could be worse.” A pessimist said, “Things will get worse.” Jesus, seeing the guy in the pit, reached down, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.
Have you noticed how Jesus ends his famous parable about the Good Samaritan? “Go and do likewise” (Lk 10:37 NKJV). You have the power to affect the lives of those around you. Your encouragement can be the difference-maker in someone’s day, week, or even life, sending them in a whole new direction. But it’s difficult to encourage people if you don’t know what they need. So become a student of people. Learn what makes them tick, know what lifts them up.
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This Valentine's Day, today, this verse and commentary made me think of LOVE. Not the romantic love that people talk about on this day, but the charitable love that Christians should be thinking of every day. Be nice to those around you, give a homeless person a hat or blanket to keep warm, say something nice to the people you love- or even better to someone that you are not close to or maybe don't even really like. Pay attention to people who need something and give it to them. Pray about how you can touch others' lives.
Dear God, help us to know how to help others. To show them Your love, through us. Give us wisdom today and every day on how to love others, help them, and lift them up. Thank you Lord! In Jesus name, AMEN.
By Anastasia Watson, Feb 14, 2010
Feb. 10th—Lift Them!
“Jesus stooped down.”
John 8:6 NKJV
Remember the woman “caught in the act” of adultery? The Pharisees stooped to pick up stones. Jesus stooped to pick her up. Which group are you in? You can’t be choosy about who you help. Some of us think we should only help those who believe like we do. No. “Uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Th. 5:14 NKJV).
There is a story about a guy who fell into a pit and couldn’t get out: A subjective person came along and said, “I feel for you down there.” An objective person came along and said, “Well, it’s logical somebody would fall down there.” A Pharisee said, “Only bad people fall into pits.” A judgmental Christian said, “You deserve your pit.” A realist said, “Now that’s a pit.” A geologist told him to appreciate the rock strata in the pit. A tax agent asked him if he was paying taxes on the pit. A self-pitying person said, “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.” An optimist said, “Things could be worse.” A pessimist said, “Things will get worse.” Jesus, seeing the guy in the pit, reached down, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.
Have you noticed how Jesus ends his famous parable about the Good Samaritan? “Go and do likewise” (Lk 10:37 NKJV). You have the power to affect the lives of those around you. Your encouragement can be the difference-maker in someone’s day, week, or even life, sending them in a whole new direction. But it’s difficult to encourage people if you don’t know what they need. So become a student of people. Learn what makes them tick, know what lifts them up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Valentine's Day, today, this verse and commentary made me think of LOVE. Not the romantic love that people talk about on this day, but the charitable love that Christians should be thinking of every day. Be nice to those around you, give a homeless person a hat or blanket to keep warm, say something nice to the people you love- or even better to someone that you are not close to or maybe don't even really like. Pay attention to people who need something and give it to them. Pray about how you can touch others' lives.
Dear God, help us to know how to help others. To show them Your love, through us. Give us wisdom today and every day on how to love others, help them, and lift them up. Thank you Lord! In Jesus name, AMEN.
By Anastasia Watson, Feb 14, 2010
Comments (2)
This is a wonderful post Anasatasia!
I too, have a Valentine message on my blog.
Happy Valentine's Day!
http://christiecottage.blogspot.com
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Oh that we may give even a fraction of what our Beloved has given us...Grace,mercy,loving kindness,
patience,comfort...the list goes on and on.
Even with our frailties and shortcomings, let's not grow weary of doing good!
Lovely post HM :o)
xoxox, Daff