(09.23.21– Honoring –John 13:35)
My friend, may I ask you a question? When we honor others with our good works, what's in it for us, if anything?
My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.
I'm M. Clifford Brunner.
I was sitting on a rotting log up on Doggie Hill here at Beech Springs recently. As I gazed around I never realized how many other deadfalls littered the immediate area. Even the old Cherry log I was sitting on had once been vibrant and towering only a few years back. For a moment it seemed sad that so many old, noble trees were now, in part or total, becoming nothing more than fertilizer for a new crop of Beech and Maple seedlings. Then it struck me; that's where I was headed. My spot on that log was appropriate for perhaps in the matter of a few decades my fate would be similar. At that moment I no longer felt pity for the fallen. There was a secret honor inherent in those fallen timbers as they were giving something essential of themselves to benefit many others. At that moment I felt their honor become mine.
When we honor others with our good works, what's in it for us, if anything?
Here's a story: A preacher in a small European village disappeared every Friday for several hours. The villagers boasted that during those hours he ascended to heaven and talked with God. There was a newcomer to that village, a skeptic and unbeliever, who determined to find out the truth. He hid near the preacher's house and watched as the preacher rose early and left his house in the clothes of a peasant. He followed and watched him cut down a tree and chop up a large stack of firewood. The Preacher then made his way to a shack in the village, home to a widow, and stacked the wood. Leaving enough wood to last a week, he quietly returned home. The villagers were startled the next Sunday when the young new- comer was in church; and even more surprised when he became a Christian shortly thereafter. Later, upon the Preacher's death, he became his successor. For the rest of his own life, whenever he heard one of the villagers speak of his predecessor and say, "On Fridays he would ascend to heaven," he would add softly, "If not higher."(Alan Smith)
Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). We seem inclined at times to try to prove our discipleship by church membership and doctrinal correctness. The real proof is how we serve others. We should never do our good works to be seen by others, but we know that our works, done in secret, are being watched. As we serve others, we honor God. Like those old trees up on Doggie Hill, the result of our good works may not always be apparent to others right away. In fact, as others look back on our lives it may seem that we've simply gone away. But the real legacy of a gracious Christian, like those old rotting trees, is what that legacy becomes when someone else plants themselves in that legacy and begins to grow–knowing or unknowingly.
We pray. Heavenly Father, Lord, thank you for letting us work with you to share your joy with the world. Help us not take for granted the gift it is to share you gospel to the nations, and to our neighbors. Help us have eyes to see the needs around us and to respond to those needs in joy and hope. Thank you so much Lord for your love and care over us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 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.