Others

Being a blessing sometimes get lost in the busyness and task focused lives we lead.  We want to be helpful, kind and caring, but our to do lists get in the way of noticing the needs around us.  We forget.  But what if we could just remember one word.  A "nudge" word to give our memories a little tap during the whirlwinds of our days.  Others. 

On Christmas Eve of 1910, General William Booth was unable to attend the annual convention of the Salvation Army he started due to failing health.  He was asked to send a telegram to encourage the "soldiers" of the Salvation Army.  General Booth, feeling the telegrams were expensive and charged by the word sent a one word message to his fellow soldiers, "Others."  This story came on the heels of my Pastor's sermon a couple of Sundays ago.  I know when I am hearing things repeated from different sources that the Lord wants me to pay attention. 

Titus 2:9 was part of that sermon, and this verse struck a chord of admonishment in my heart that I pray will resonate throughout each day of my life.  Titus 2:9  Slaves must obey their masters and do their best to please them.  They must not talk back or steal but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good.  Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.

The part that really got me going in that verse was the last sentence.  "Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way."   Wow.  That is the full desire of my heart and I get frustrated because I fail so often at doing this. 

My prayer is to always be a blessing and bring glory to my Savior.  I think the Lord sent the story about General Booth's message just to give me a way to remember my mission in life.  Others.  Be a blessing.  Philippians 2:3-4  Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

God's Word is filled with ways to be a blessing to others...to think of others over ourselves.  When we do this we follow the example set by our Savior Jesus Christ who spent His time here on earth loving and helping people everywhere He went.  By imitating Jesus, we shine God's love and character wherever we are, work, home,school, out in the hustle and bustle of life. 

Joyce Meyer said that focusing on and living for self is a joy-stealer (my paraphrase).  If we want to have the joy filled life Jesus promises then we must practice the "others" philosophy.  Too often I let my pride get in the way of humbling serving others.  I let my pride dictate what I will or will not do to help another.  I let my judgement of what I think others deserve or don't deserve be the meter by which I dole out help.  Ugh!  Ow!  I wonder how many less people would have been healed by Jesus if He used any of these ways to determine who would get His help.  I'm pretty sure I would have been one of those left out if God was looking for the "deserve-eds."

Lord, teach us to live for You and to focus on blessing others.  Help us to lay aside our pride, knowing You desire humility.  Help us to care for those around us, knowing You will meet our needs.  Give us hearts to love as You love us. Teach us to be humble as Jesus was humble.   Lord, put this word, "others" in our hearts today that we may "make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way."  In Jesus Name.  Amen

Others.