As I was walking around the campus of Ohio State the other day, it brought up a memory from when I committed my life to Christ. It was the day after I had prayed for Jesus to be lord of my life. I was walking down High Street and I had a taste for chicken, so I stopped at the local 3 in 1 (Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell). I remember ordering some kind of chicken meal and departed. As I was making my way home, a homeless man asked me for help as he was very hungry. I gave him a couple of dollars and went on my way. When I got back to my dorm, I felt guilty because I had given him money rather than the food I had purchased as he was hungry. Let's just say it wasn't the best dinner I ever had.
For years, whenever I would pass that way I would remember that incident. I'd feel a little bit of guilt, or maybe wonder whatever happened to that homeless man that evening.
Now, I am good at wallowing around in my guilt, but this is not that story. This is not about missed opportunities but rather God reminding us of things forgotten. There were things that I had completely forgotten on that evening and God, this day, wanted to remind me.
Moments after I had handed this man a few bucks I then waited at the crosswalk for the green light. The homeless man started shouting and thanking me because as he said, he wanted others to know of my good deed I had done for him. Not liking to be the center of attention, I was grateful when the light turned green to get away.
I hadn't thought about that second part of the encounter in years, just the first part of it. Could I have done more? Possibly so. I did make a noble gesture, not because I was looking for praise, but that it was the right thing to do.
Sometimes, I think, we assume it is the grandest of gestures that make the most impact. How much we contribute or give might be our standard. Or, that we saw a change in that person's life immediately. But, how can we determine what we do doesn't make a profound impact on someone. I did something seemingly minor but it resonated with the person I affected with it. The size of the gesture is not the most important thing. Nor, is its impact on us that matters most. As I said, every person is different and we do not know where each person is in their lives. It is giving our hearts that matters.
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" Matthew 25:40.
The previous passage comes in the response after the King had told those on his right that they fed him when he was hungry, drink when he was thirsty, clothed when he needed clothes, and visited in person. The righteous ask the question "When did we do these things for you?" Thus, the response in Matthew 25:40.
There's something profound that I picked up while I was re-reading the passage. Sometimes, we get caught up in being noticed for our good deeds or even if we are doing good if it matters. Here, Jesus is pointing out is that he notices. That's what is important here. Now, we don't do good deeds to get on Jesus' good side or get Him to love us more. Rather, our gestures are in response to what God has already done for us. An outflow of the generosity that God first gave us.
If we call ourselves believers, then naturally our words and actions should model the patterns of Jesus. We should want to be a blessing to those around us, not for our own fame, but to point to Jesus. Who better deserves the glory anyways?
So, going back to my original story. I didn't go to the rooftops shouting what I had just done. Matter of fact, I felt bad that I didn't do enough. Yet, to the man I helped, it made his day. He was overcome with joy and was shouting it out loud to those around him. I didn't think I changed his life significantly with those two dollars. Then again, maybe I did.
Remember the times you were touched deeply by someone? How often was it a small gesture? A listening ear, a friendly voice, a shoulder to cry on? Yet, to you, it meant everything. We will be able to impact people's lives with our words and actions on a big or small scale. We just need to remember to whom the glory should go to.
For years, whenever I would pass that way I would remember that incident. I'd feel a little bit of guilt, or maybe wonder whatever happened to that homeless man that evening.
Now, I am good at wallowing around in my guilt, but this is not that story. This is not about missed opportunities but rather God reminding us of things forgotten. There were things that I had completely forgotten on that evening and God, this day, wanted to remind me.
Moments after I had handed this man a few bucks I then waited at the crosswalk for the green light. The homeless man started shouting and thanking me because as he said, he wanted others to know of my good deed I had done for him. Not liking to be the center of attention, I was grateful when the light turned green to get away.
I hadn't thought about that second part of the encounter in years, just the first part of it. Could I have done more? Possibly so. I did make a noble gesture, not because I was looking for praise, but that it was the right thing to do.
Sometimes, I think, we assume it is the grandest of gestures that make the most impact. How much we contribute or give might be our standard. Or, that we saw a change in that person's life immediately. But, how can we determine what we do doesn't make a profound impact on someone. I did something seemingly minor but it resonated with the person I affected with it. The size of the gesture is not the most important thing. Nor, is its impact on us that matters most. As I said, every person is different and we do not know where each person is in their lives. It is giving our hearts that matters.
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" Matthew 25:40.
The previous passage comes in the response after the King had told those on his right that they fed him when he was hungry, drink when he was thirsty, clothed when he needed clothes, and visited in person. The righteous ask the question "When did we do these things for you?" Thus, the response in Matthew 25:40.
There's something profound that I picked up while I was re-reading the passage. Sometimes, we get caught up in being noticed for our good deeds or even if we are doing good if it matters. Here, Jesus is pointing out is that he notices. That's what is important here. Now, we don't do good deeds to get on Jesus' good side or get Him to love us more. Rather, our gestures are in response to what God has already done for us. An outflow of the generosity that God first gave us.
If we call ourselves believers, then naturally our words and actions should model the patterns of Jesus. We should want to be a blessing to those around us, not for our own fame, but to point to Jesus. Who better deserves the glory anyways?
So, going back to my original story. I didn't go to the rooftops shouting what I had just done. Matter of fact, I felt bad that I didn't do enough. Yet, to the man I helped, it made his day. He was overcome with joy and was shouting it out loud to those around him. I didn't think I changed his life significantly with those two dollars. Then again, maybe I did.
Remember the times you were touched deeply by someone? How often was it a small gesture? A listening ear, a friendly voice, a shoulder to cry on? Yet, to you, it meant everything. We will be able to impact people's lives with our words and actions on a big or small scale. We just need to remember to whom the glory should go to.
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