| Good Morning Everyone, Our theme for this month: “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire” Our Bible verse for today: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16 (NIV) Our thought for today: “Do good and bless others” As we draw near to the end of our month-long pursuit of fresh wind in our sails and fresh fire in our souls, I want to return to a subject I’ve been repeatedly emphasizing over the four months that our nation has been in the grip of the pandemic, the economic collapse, and the social unrest. It is the subject of doing good and blessing others. One of the best things a person can do to help him or herself through this, is to take their eyes off of themselves and focus instead on being a blessing to others. Few things will lift us up and be as big an encouragement to ourselves than the knowledge that we were able to make life a little better for someone else. Recently I read an account told by an old man who had served as a soldier in post-World War Two in London. Throughout the war England had been bombed without mercy by the Nazis. There had also been a naval blockade, and obstructions to land routes, that both served to inhibit trade and make resources scarce all throughout the war. Now that the war was over, the city of London was heavily damaged. There was rubble everywhere, the economy was depressed, people were homeless and hungry, and despair was heavy and pervasive. The solider told of how one day he was driving his jeep down a rubble-strewn London street when he saw a dirty young boy in rags staring into the window of a bakery. Captured by the sight, the solider stopped his jeep to get a closer look. On the other side of the window the baker was taking fresh pastries out of the oven. The boy was fixated on the sight of the pastries and his mouth was watering so much that saliva was dripping down his chin. The soldier’s heart just broke at the sight and he asked the boy, “Son, would you like to have some of those pastries?” Wide-eyed and startled the boy said, “Oh, yes sir, I really would.” With that the soldier went into the bakery, purchased a bag of the fresh pastries, and handed them to the boy. The boy was stunned, and as the soldier turned to walk away the boy tugged on the edge of his jacket and asked him, “Mister … are you God?” He wasn’t, but He was following God’s example. The soldier drove away from that encounter humbled by the knowledge that such a small act on his part could be so meaningful to someone else. We are never more like God than when we intentionally bless others. And also, we will never experience a greater sense of having been blessed ourselves than when we have had the privilege of blessing someone else in Jesus’ name. I encourage all of us to take our eyes off of ourselves and intentionally look for opportunities to bless others. It will be good for them, but it will be good for you too. God Bless, Pastor Jim |
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