Perhaps an angel? (11.01.21–Don't Judge! –Hebrews 13:2)
My friend, may I ask you a question? Do we pray sometimes; content with God's "regular" answers to prayer, unwilling to deal with His miracles He often has in store for us?
My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.
I'm M. Clifford Brunner.
We have an old woodshed on our property here at Beech Springs. It leans a bit to the left and the eaves on the west side are a bit rotted. The doors don't shut evenly and one door has to be propped to stay open. I see the shed as quaint and in pretty good shape as woodsheds go. It keeps the wood dry and that's all I care about. My wife Holly, on the other hand, sees a shed that is in the process of decay and will eventually fall down. We both see the same shed but we don't see the same vision for what a woodshed needs to be. Which of our two views is right depends on what we want to believe.
Woodsheds are one thing; but what about people? Is it possible to judge people like, well, an old wood shed?
Here's a story: Amy was a server at a restaurant. She always had a cheery attitude, and she loved Jesus. One day a man came in who stunk and looked dirty. As he waited to be seated, none of the staff would seat him. Out of desperation the hostess brought the man to Amy, and she seated him, asking him if he would like coffee. He said no, thank you, but tea? She brought him his tea, and smiled. "Do you know what you want to order?" "Yes", he said, and ordered his food. When Amy went to bring it to the kitchen, the others were staring at her. "How can you stand it?" Amy just looked at them with a quizzical look, and got the order. She delivered it and started talking to the gentleman. "So where are you from?" He replied, "Long way from here." "Have you been traveling long?" She asked. "Yes", he replied. The man finished his meal, and left. Later, one waitress asked Amy how she was able to serve him. "Why? What do you mean?" She said. "Look, I don't know what your problem is. That man was very clean, handsome, and very well dressed. He spoke perfect English, and smelled like million-dollar cologne. Now what is your problem, people?" They all looked at her, and said, "What is yours Amy? He didn't look or smell like that at all." As it turns out, they saw one thing and she certainly saw another. (Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.)
Obviously Amy and the rest of the staff saw the same man but didn't see the same image of a man. You might say that Amy had seen an angel and they had seen a bum. The others saw him as they wanted to. However, Amy saw him, as God wanted them too. God's Word tells us that we ought "not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2). Having a different perspective on things as mundane as a wood shed is fine; but people are God's special creation. The only thing God wants us to see in others IS His special creation. There is no room for perspective when it comes to judging others. There is one image and one vision: love for others in Christ.
We pray. Heavenly Father, remind us Father that we ought "not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing we may entertain angels without knowing it. Having a different perspective on things as mundane as as most things in this life is fine; but people are Your special creation. The only thing You want us to see in others IS Your special creation. There is no room for perspective when it comes to judging others. There is one image and one vision: love for others in Christ. I pray Lord that we will always make this our perspective. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”
<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.