“Then
he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23
NIV).
Recently
I learned that a friend of mine from one of our previous ministries
lost her 42 year old son due to a tragic accident. He was riding his
bike and a truck went through a stop sign and hit him. I was heart
broken for my friend and her family. When incidents like this happens
I become very reflective about life. I think all of us take life for
granted. We think that we are indestructible and that death is far
off in the future, but we are only guaranteed this moment. We are
here by the grace of God. It is important to be doing His will every
moment and behaving in a manner that would please God with every
breath He allows us to breathe.
Jesus
said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all
your soul, and with all your mind.” Also: “Love your neighbor as
yourself” (Matthew 37,39 NIV). Are you doing this? When you wake up
do you thank God for the day, and ask him to show you ways that you
can be used by him? There are so many ways you can show Jesus’ love
as you go through your day. You could help someone unload groceries,
complement someone, send an encouraging card to someone, tell someone
they are doing a great job, or witness to someone about what Jesus
had done in your life. The world seems to be full of hate and
unkindness now, at least that is what the news suggests. But if each
one of us were to show kindness to others, then maybe things would
change. It just takes one person helping someone that can start a
chain reaction. Be on the lookout for ways to show random acts of
kindness. As a Christian this should be how we behave to others. We
must love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
I
pray that those of you reading this will not take your lives for
granted, but will be praying every day for ways to show God’s love
to others and in every endeavor put Christ first in your life.
Dear
Lord,
I
realize life is short and that sometimes I take it for granted. Help
me to constantly be aware that I must put your will above mine. Help
me to be a living example of your love as I go about my daily
business. Help my words to be uplifting to those around me.
In
Jesus’ name,
Amen
