Scripture of the Day: Matthew 24: 37-39a
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
First off, I apologize for not writing this yesterday! By the time travels were done, I was exhausted!
Due to a recent, tragic death in town, there has since been a "pay it forward" movement in memory of the man, and to help further the Kingdom by showing Jesus to others. This is largely happening in the form of paying for meals at restaurants and drive-throughs. There has been some concern that instead of this form of movement, the focus should be on the needy. Focusing on the those in need is always terrific! But Jesus loved on everybody...even those who had more than enough.
Paying for the person behind you in the drive through, or paying for a meal for someone at a restaurant is "being" Jesus just as much as if you were to donate that money to a charity or help the homeless. The reason I think they are the same is because they both show love to people. When I read to love your neighbor, I really read, "love everyone."
When we do that and are charitable in any way, to anyone, (offering things with monetary value, or time), we are showing the love of Jesus. We are hopefully reaching out to people who may not know Jesus and perhaps we can get them thinking about things in a new way. We can open doors and pray that God will open hearts.
It doesn't matter where you are when you pay it forward. I think Jesus gave us all hearts for giving...but in different ways. For some it is the homeless. For some it is young children. For some it is abused women. For some it is veterans. It doesn't matter where you are called to give. Whatever you do, you are loving people the way Jesus commanded you to.
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
First off, I apologize for not writing this yesterday! By the time travels were done, I was exhausted!
Due to a recent, tragic death in town, there has since been a "pay it forward" movement in memory of the man, and to help further the Kingdom by showing Jesus to others. This is largely happening in the form of paying for meals at restaurants and drive-throughs. There has been some concern that instead of this form of movement, the focus should be on the needy. Focusing on the those in need is always terrific! But Jesus loved on everybody...even those who had more than enough.
Paying for the person behind you in the drive through, or paying for a meal for someone at a restaurant is "being" Jesus just as much as if you were to donate that money to a charity or help the homeless. The reason I think they are the same is because they both show love to people. When I read to love your neighbor, I really read, "love everyone."
When we do that and are charitable in any way, to anyone, (offering things with monetary value, or time), we are showing the love of Jesus. We are hopefully reaching out to people who may not know Jesus and perhaps we can get them thinking about things in a new way. We can open doors and pray that God will open hearts.
It doesn't matter where you are when you pay it forward. I think Jesus gave us all hearts for giving...but in different ways. For some it is the homeless. For some it is young children. For some it is abused women. For some it is veterans. It doesn't matter where you are called to give. Whatever you do, you are loving people the way Jesus commanded you to.
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