1Peter 4:11(NLT)
11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
When my phone rang the other day, I heard an unfamiliar woman’s voice on the other end.
“Hello. Is this Kim?”
“Yes, it is – who am I speaking with?”
“Kim, you don’t know who this is?!!!” She asked.
From that high pitch in her voice, I knew instantly that it was my co-worker. I hadn’t spoken to her in months. I was so surprised and happy to hear from her.
“Oh my goodness…Madeline, is that you?!!!”
It was revealed that Madeline was battling cancer. Friends and co-workers began rallying around her, showing as much support for her as possible. Madeline has always been a very bubbly, and cheerful woman, so when folks heard of her diagnosis, it was no surprise to see the level of love that came her way. She stopped working because the effects of chemotherapy were taking a toll. Because her income diminished, family and friends started fundraisers to help raise money to defray the cost of her medical expenses.
Proverbs 27:9-10(MSG), says “9 Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul. 10 Don’t leave your friends or your parents’ friends and run home to your family when things get rough; Better a nearby friend than a distant family.”
The Word teaches us that a friend can stick closer to you than your own flesh and blood. Friendships are a sweet extension of God’s love, and our outpouring of love should come naturally and instinctively, especially for the household of believers. But all too often, we’ve taught ourselves to become very comfortable, and instead of reaching out to those who need us, we remain tucked away in our four walls. We can’t fulfill the call of Christ this way.
The Apostle Peter reminds us that all our talents, skills, and special abilities are gifts come from the Lord. They are given to us to use for the benefit of the body of Christ. Peter calls upon the followers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to use our gifts to love each other deeply and to serve one another. He encourages us to move in love with all the strength and energy our God supplies, then our efforts will have God’s loving touch and bring Him glory! All of us have a responsibility to do this, but many of us have not done our parts.
Very often we are distracted by our own personal issues and forget about the gifts that God has given to us. We forget how to show true authentic love by being of service to others around us. The simple truth is that we must be a blessing to others in order to open a channel to receive a blessing. Jesus Christ tells us in Luke 6:38(NLT), “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Heavenly Father designed us all in such a way that we need to work together in unity, because this is His Will.
We need others just as much as they need us. I was quickly reminded of this truth when I heard Madeline’s voice on the other end of the phone. As she was talking to me, she mentioned that she was still undergoing treatment, but felt she had to call. She said she thought of me often, and in her words, “Today I made up in my mind I was not going to let another day go by without calling you. I have no excuse to not be about my Heavenly Father’s business.” I thought, “Here it is, this woman is going through so much and she still thinks of extending love.” It was such a wonderful example of Luke 6:38. Madeline’s friends and family had come together in unity to be of service to her, and she is keeping the love flowing.
There is no small act of love. They are all meaningful in the Father’s eyes. As 1Peter 4:11 tells us, our love action brings glory to Him. Let’s remember who we are and what He’s called us to do today and every day. We must be committed to uplift His Kingdom continually and be a blessing to those in need.
Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“We Need Them and They Need Us” written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2020. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.