DEVOTIONAL PAGE
Fred Smith once stated, “You are the way you are because that’s the way you want to be. If you really wanted to be any different, you would be in the process of changing right now.”
He is right. We are the product of what we are doing with our lives at this particular moment. It doesn’t matter what life has handed us, it is up to us to use it the way it would be the most productive and the most beneficial for us.
In the past few days our church administrator was given the responsibility of handling transients that come through the church office needing help. The fair had just left town and this one man was left behind. Not having any money, shelter, or food, our administrator took him and fed him and bought him a train ticket to get him home.
With ticket in hand the man cashed it in for money and stayed in our town. Once again he came to the church for help, and, of course, being a Christian environment, he was aided once again. This time he was put on the train by the administrator.
There are so many people who want to do better, however they are so used to others doing things for them, they shy away from getting a stable footing for themselves.
Over 20 years ago I remember our church in Louisiana helping a man from Texas. We fed him, clothed him, and gave him a place to sleep. He wanted to repay his debt and offered his services of painting and doing other jobs around the church. Our staff allowed this until we got comfortable with him and he stole the church van. Come to find out, he didn’t need much help; he just wanted to steal that van and try to sell it for parts.
God takes care of his people because someone spotted the van in a neighborhood in Texas. The law was called, the van was recovered, and the man was taken into custody.
There are many people in the world that needs our help and we should be there for them. Food, shelter, and other amenities are very much needed, however God’s Word and God’s actions should be told to anyone needing help. If the person in need is genuine, he or she will listen and try to do better with what they have and build on what they have received. God tells us to be generous in our giving and help those in need. Think about the Good Samaritan and the deed he did for a man he did not know.
Never miss an opportunity to be a servant to you fellow man. Help them with what you can and then it is up to that individual to help themselves.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the opportunity to help others. I pray that I will always be in your will and treat others the way I would want to be treated. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - Romans 12:9-14; Monday - Habakkuk 1:2-4; Tuesday - Psalm 69:1-5; Wednesday - John 14:15-17; Thursday - Deuteronomy 33:29; Friday - Psalm 28:6-9; Saturday - Proverbs 19:20-23.) A116-10