Sharing Love

The ending quote from this morning's devotion said, "Real love is helping others for Jesus’ sake even if they can never return the favor."  Hmmm.  I've thought of other things that way before... money, time, invitations to our home, etc. but never of love.  I guess it never occurred to me that there were some who are incapable of love.  

Now that I re-read those words, I see that the quote is talking about the same thing I've always heard but it did still put that thought in my mind about loving people even if they can't return the favor... I mean, sure, we help people and, by doing so, show them God's love, but we don't expect love in return...  

Honestly, at times, we get upset because the people we help just want more and are demanding like they think we have an endless supply and we should have thought of this need or that need and where is it?  Why isn't it being met?  Instead of thanking us for the things we do provide, they are looking for more... but is that really being loving on my part?  Perhaps they are uncapable of returning God's love.  After all, we aren't doing these things for earthly praise but because we are feeling called to do them for our Heavenly Father.

We need to remember... our response to God is praise and love for our neighbor.  We are only responsible for our response.  We shouldn't expect the same from those we help.

So, as we go through this journey, perhaps we should think of this quote this way... "Show God's love to others for Jesus' sake, even if they can never show it in return."  If you've got the love of Jesus down in your heart, don't leave it there... share it with those around you.

Let's shine for Jesus today.... "I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart..."  "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine!"

Know

This week, I've had two songs going through my head.  And these aren't the usual Christian Contemporary, Praise & Worship, or Hymns that normally reside there but, instead, secular jingles.  But, God has given me new perspective for each of them and I felt He would like me to share with you what I've learned.

So, here's the first one:

"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name

And they're always glad you came

You wanna be where you can see our troubles are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows your name"

Making our way does take a lot out of us but we can take a break from our worries when we lay them at the foot of the cross.  "Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) and He knows our names.

Hopefully we have a small group that we meet with on a regular basis who share our burdens and know us more intimately than the general public but even without that, God knows our name... we are as numerous as the stars in the heavens... the multitude of humankind is more numerous than all the grains of sand but (and this is a huge BUT) God knows each one of us by name... He even knows the numbers of hairs on your head!  My mind can't even comprehend that truth!  So, when you're feeling dragged down by the world, what better place to hide than in the arms of Jesus.

The second song is this...

You've got to know when to hold 'em....

I don't think I need list those lyrics here in total but I will break down what the Spirit has been saying to me about this chorus:

Ecc. 3 tells us there is a time for every purpose under heaven.  We need to know when to hold our loved ones close and when to let them go.  We need to know when to hold our tongue and when to share the knowledge and truth that God has laid on our hearts.  And here are two other scriptures to go with that portion of the chorus...

You've got to know when to hold 'em:  Matt. 10:11 says, "whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city".

... know when to fold 'em:  Matt. 7:6 says, "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."

... Know when to walk away:  And Matt. 10:14 says, "Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet."

... know when to run: Genesis 39 tells the story of how Joseph fled from Potipher's wife.  He didn't just walk away or ignore her while staying in the same room, no, he fled... he ran away as quickly as his feet would carry him.  When we are faced with temptation, we need to run just as Joseph did.

... Never count your money when you're sittin' at the table:  In Luke 12, Jesus talks of a man who had great gains and so he tore down his old store houses and built bigger better ones and then, in verse 20 it says, "But God said to him, ‘You fool!  This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’

... They'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done:  2 Cor. 5 and Rev. 22 are just a few scriptures that talk about the rewards that await us in heaven.  There is too much work for us to do here on earth... too many lost souls that need saving... hurting souls that need comfort that only we can give... we can't sit around and dwell on the good things we've done for Christ and His kingdom but we need to strive on toward the goal.  We will have all of eternity to look back on the blessings of this life.

So, there it is... two secular songs in a little more spiritual light.  I hope these thoughts bless you as they have me this week.