The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"A Special Blessing"
My wife Frances shared a thought with me the other day that greatly blessed me (something she does all the time, of course!).
"I have decided that when I go to work, I am going to ask the Lord to allow me to be a special blessing to at least one person while I am there."
Those of you who know Frances are aware that she is a special blessing to far more than one person, wherever she may be. However, I love the particular commitment expressed by her determination. It makes me think that the desire to be "a special blessing to at least one person" would be a great prayer to offer to the Lord regarding wherever we go.
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all" (Galatians 6:10).
What if we join Frances in asking the Lord to grant opportunity to "do good" to at least one person as we journey to our places of work and responsibility? Or to the store? Or to church? Or to a restaurant? Or to the doctor? Or in our neighborhood? Or in our own home? Such a desire wrought by the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and such a prayer prayed to our Heavenly Father in the name of the Lord Jesus, will surely find Him working in us to bless somebody, and doubtless many somebodies.
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20).
Allow a few more "What ifs?" What if the workplace is far more about ministry to others than making money? What if we go to the store not only to access supplies, but to even more exemplify the Lord Jesus in our countenance, demeanor, attitudes, words, and actions? What if we go to church far more to minister than to be ministered unto? What if we go to restaurants not first to eat, but to bestow some measure of the Bread of life to others? When we must visit the doctor, what if we go not first to be treated or healed, but to bestow some form of God's caring to those who provide care for us? What if we live in our neighborhoods not primarily because we like our location or house, but because our Lord placed us in a venue where we can shine as lights to our neighbors? And what if our homes are actually temples where the wonders and responsibilities of family serve as opportunities to be God's blessings to one another?
None of these possibilities are "What ifs?" They are actually "What is." Everything in our lives as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ involves first and foremost our privileged responsibility to glorify God and bless others. The Christ who "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister" now lives in us by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 20:28; Galatians 4:6). We must therefore understand and interpret our existence as opportunity to serve, or in Frances's terms, to "be a special blessing to at least one person." Again, in God's terms, when we make that commitment, "one person" will become many as His Spirit of love leads and enables us to view ourselves and our lives in the glory of our Savior's devotion to the Father and to others. This is life, the life of Christ as revealed in all who, like Frances, respond to His moving within us to be "a special blessing." There is no other...
"To live is Christ… Walk even as He walked… God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts… Walk in love, even as Christ hath loved us, and given Himself for us and offering and a sacrifice to God… Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God… Here am I. Send me."
(Philippians 1:21; I John 2:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 5:2; I Corinthians 10:31; Isaiah 6:8)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
(Philippians 2:4)
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