Give to Others by Ann Broughton

“Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a remembrance before God” (Acts 10:4 NIV).

Have you ever heard of Make A Difference Day? On a special day, this year October 26, all over the nation groups of people gather in their community to make a difference. Some of them make a community garden, mentor, improve low income housing, clean up a park, and many other wonderful things. This is sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine and Points of Light. It is a good cause. 

  I believe as Christians every day should be Make a Difference Day. We are to be the ones to make a difference in other people’s lives by helping them in some way.  Jesus walked this earth as a servant of God, and did not ask anything for himself. He owned no home when he traveled from town to town healing the sick, preaching, and casting out demons.  His ministry was all about serving others and not about gaining wealth for himself.  He even told his apostles when he sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God, “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic” (Luke  9:3 NIV).  They were to stay in a house in a city and preach and heal.

 Jesus was constantly preaching about not gathering riches for yourself. He told the young ruler to go and sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor and then he would have treasure in heaven. The young ruler couldn’t do that. Then Jesus said that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 19:21-23).

Interesting isn’t it? It is the opposite of what we are taught today. I am afraid that too many people want more and more things. But you see all those things aren’t ever going to be enough. There will always be something else that looks better. You will never be satisfied if you set out to acquire things to make you happy. And you will never be able to take it with you when you die.

Jesus knew that the most important thing in life is to love the Father and to show that love by giving to others. This can be through financial help and also by doing something nice for someone. But we are all called to help others who are less fortunate than we are.

I read a book called Crazy Love, Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Fancis Chan. It is a challenging book. In it there is a chapter all about people who have done amazing things for God. One person used all her money that she earned from her books to help charities. She drives a 1980 Volkswagon bug and says it helps her focus on prayer and better identify with people who are in need. Rich Mullins, a songwriter and performer gave all the money from his concerts and albums to his church. He accepted a small salary and gave the rest away. You see these are examples of what being a true Christian is. Are you doing what you can to make a difference in someone’s life? I hope you will now.

Dear Lord,

Help us look to Jesus’ ministry as a guide to do what may not be so comfortable for us, but something that will make a difference in someone else’s life forever. Help us to reach out and give aid to others and not want so much for ourselves.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Love One Another by Ann Broughton

“Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39 NIV).

This is a commandment that Jesus proclaimed after the Pharisees, who were against him, had asked Him what the greatest commandment was in the Law. They thought they had Him cornered but instead of yelling at them, He just calmly stated the above verse. Did you know that the word love is mentioned 319 times in the Old Testament and 232 times in the New Testament?  Did you know that the word disappointment never occurs in the Bible?  Jesus’ whole ministry was based on love. He never told anyone that they were a disappointment to Him.  He loved Judas as much as He loved Lazarus. He loved the woman who was caught in adultery who the Pharisees threw on the ground in front of him in disgust. With stones in their hands, these men dared Jesus to say the word to stone her, but instead he bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. He said to these Pharisees, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7 NIV).  One by one they left and Jesus was alone with this woman. Then he said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? “No, one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John  8:10-11 NIV). 

You see Jesus showed love and compassion to someone who was in a desperate situation. All of these stories about Jesus in the Bible are to be an example of how we are to treat others. We are to show compassion and love to everyone. It is very easy to judge others sometimes when we truly don’t know what has gone on in their lives. You see none of us get through life without being hurt in some way or another. All of us have secret parts of our lives that we do not let anyone in to see. Sometimes these things that happened can cause people to be bitter and angry. How do you react to people who are like this? I truly believe that people who are mean or nasty carry around some pretty heavy burdens. These are the ones who truly need your prayers, and they need to be shown compassion. How do you show compassion every day?

I truly try to look people in the eyes at my work. I can usually tell if something is wrong and I try to show compassion to them. People’s eyes can portray pain, agony, sadness, and anger. Are you noticing this? It only takes a few minutes, to stop and say, “Is everything alright? Can I help you?” 

I urge you this week to be aware of those around you and who is suffering. Offer to pray for them or just give them a hug and an encouraging word. I am a big hugger, so I give my coworkers hugs when I see they are distressed. A hug is always comforting. Look around you and offer hope and love to those who need it.

Dear Lord,

Help me to reach out to others in love and show your compassion in all I do. Help me not to judge those who demonstrate anger and bitterness. There is always a reason for such behavior. Thank you for your mercy and grace.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

What Is Your Spiritual GIft? by Ann Broughton

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men” (1 Cor. 12:4-6 NIV). 

How are you using the gifts God gave you? We all have gifts that we need to use to help others in some way. I know many people will say that they have no special gift that can be used by God, but they would be wrong. The Bible is specific, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7 NIV). This pretty much says that we are to use our gifts to help others.

 I believe I have several gifts: bringing joy to others, singing, teaching, and writing. I will have to admit that I was seriously considering not writing devotions anymore. I didn’t believe that my impact on others was that great and that my words of wisdom weren’t really reaching anyone. But after praying, I was convicted. I felt that I have this talent and maybe someone was being blessed that I didn’t know about. Maybe this talent that God gave me was helping someone come closer to God. So I decided to start writing again.

Now I truly believe that you have been given a special gift also. I will ask that question again, “What are you doing with the gift God gave you?”  There are so many people out there who need a smile, an encouraging word, a hug, a phone call, or a shoulder to cry on. You may be the one who needs to bring a meal to someone. You may be the one who visits a widow. There are so many people who have needs. As Christians, we are called to meet those needs and sometimes go out of our comfort zone to do it. Pray about this and do something for someone this week. Use your God given gift. You will be blessed and be a blessing to someone else.

Dear Lord,

Show me what my gift is and help me to use it for your purpose. Help me to reach out to others with your love and compassion.

In Jesus name,

Amen

You Are a New Creation By Ann Broughton

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).

    When we become Christians we are a new creation. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Cor. 5:20 NIV). I am reminded of our ambassadors who represent the United States in other countries. They represent everything that the United States believes in. So are we to be Christ’s ambassadors on earth in our every day life. We are to portray to others the principals that Jesus taught. Are you doing this or do you slip now and then and show your old nature to others?

    My little grandson who is 6 has a problem with anger. He has been known to get really angry with his brothers in particular. Well, one day his brother asked him why he could be so good at school and so crazy at home. He said, “It is just in my nature.”  Now we can laugh at that coming from a 6 year old, but don’t we sometimes let our old nature creep out at times?  I believe we all have a war waging in us regarding our old self and our new self in Christ. But since we have the Holy Spirit, we can count on it to help us not give in to temptation in regards to old habits that could bind us up in despair.

    I went to a Beth Moore Simulcast on Saturday, and she spoke about how we like to haul around our old self like a dead body. She drug around a floppy mannequin to show us what it is like. We don’t want to give up some of those old ways because we were more comfortable with the old life, even when it was depressing and horrible.  We need to throw if off of us, and say, “No longer!!!”.  We are to say: “No longer am I going to be in bondage to my bad habits like: anger, eating disorders, lying, cheating, adultery, worrying, complaining, alcohol, drugs etc.”  The list could go on to include many other vices that entice us in the world. You see you are in charge of your life. It is up to you to decide who you will follow, Christ or the world.

   When we accept Christ as our Savior we are a new creation. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 5:22-24 NIV).

    It can be a struggle not to give in to our old ways, but with God’s help you can choose what is right so that your witness will be a benefit to others who need someone to show them how to walk in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Dear Lord,

Every day we have choices to make in regards to being someone who is a blessing to others, instead of a stumbling block. Help us not to give in to our old ways, but portray to others a Christ-like spirit in all we do.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen