“But if anyone has the world’s goods and
sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love
abide in him?” – 1 John 3:17
Have you ever encountered someone who had an apparent need, something inside of you urged you to take action but you turned away, pushing that thought aside? Perhaps you thought some justifying thoughts. “They don’t really need help.” “Why don’t they help themselves?” “It’s not my problem.” “Being around them makes me feel uncomfortable.” I could go on. There are an infinite number of reasons why we don’t help. Or more directly, why we say “No” to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Helping people will always cost you something. It won’t necessarily be money, but it could be. But, it might be time, inconvenience, or maybe there will be an emotional cost. In any case, it is an expression of love.
“No greater love has one man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend.” – John 15:13
Martie and I had something like this happen to us recently. It would have been easy for us to demand our rights. After all we were in the “right”. But there was something else at work. The person had a weakness that brought them heartache and broken relationships. They needed grace and mercy. They needed to see Jesus. Not like Oral Roberts vision of a 900 foot Jesus. (you can Google that) But the image of Jesus that is imprinted in every Believer.
In Romans Paul encouraged us to resist responding to others as the world responds.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:2
Rather than be conformed to the world’s perspective, allow God to conform you to the image of His Son – Jesus, by the power of His Spirit in you.
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” – Romans 8:29
As you live out your life, you will be confronted with many opportunities to be “inconvenienced” by others. The Spirit will not prompt you to help every one of them. But He will some of them. The implication here is that your heart is open to the Spirit of God – that you are spiritually aware and willing to yield to the Spirit. What I am writing about is a spiritual act, not merely an act of good will. God is behind it. He is helping others through you. God chooses who it will be and when and how, your choice is to obey. You need the Spirit to see past their want and see their need. And then to say “Yes, Lord. Yes. To Your will and to Your Way. I will trust You and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree and I will answer ‘Yes, Lord, yes.’”
Have you ever encountered someone who had an apparent need, something inside of you urged you to take action but you turned away, pushing that thought aside? Perhaps you thought some justifying thoughts. “They don’t really need help.” “Why don’t they help themselves?” “It’s not my problem.” “Being around them makes me feel uncomfortable.” I could go on. There are an infinite number of reasons why we don’t help. Or more directly, why we say “No” to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Helping people will always cost you something. It won’t necessarily be money, but it could be. But, it might be time, inconvenience, or maybe there will be an emotional cost. In any case, it is an expression of love.
“No greater love has one man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend.” – John 15:13
Martie and I had something like this happen to us recently. It would have been easy for us to demand our rights. After all we were in the “right”. But there was something else at work. The person had a weakness that brought them heartache and broken relationships. They needed grace and mercy. They needed to see Jesus. Not like Oral Roberts vision of a 900 foot Jesus. (you can Google that) But the image of Jesus that is imprinted in every Believer.
In Romans Paul encouraged us to resist responding to others as the world responds.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:2
Rather than be conformed to the world’s perspective, allow God to conform you to the image of His Son – Jesus, by the power of His Spirit in you.
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” – Romans 8:29
As you live out your life, you will be confronted with many opportunities to be “inconvenienced” by others. The Spirit will not prompt you to help every one of them. But He will some of them. The implication here is that your heart is open to the Spirit of God – that you are spiritually aware and willing to yield to the Spirit. What I am writing about is a spiritual act, not merely an act of good will. God is behind it. He is helping others through you. God chooses who it will be and when and how, your choice is to obey. You need the Spirit to see past their want and see their need. And then to say “Yes, Lord. Yes. To Your will and to Your Way. I will trust You and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree and I will answer ‘Yes, Lord, yes.’”
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