Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.
Many years ago, a 10-year-old boy walked up to the counter of a soda shop and climbed onto a stool. He caught the eye of the waitress and asked, “How much is an ice cream sundae?”
“Fifty cents,” the waitress replied. The boy reached into his pockets, pulled out a handful of change, and began counting. The waitress frowned impatiently. After all, she had other customers to wait on.
The boy squinted up at the waitress. “How much is a dish of plain ice cream?” he asked. The waitress sighed and rolled her eyes. “Thirty-five cents,” she said with a note of irritation.
Again, the boy counted his coins. At last, he said, “I’ll have the plain ice cream, please.” He put a quarter and two nickels on the counter. The waitress took the coins, brought the ice cream, and walked away.
About ten minutes later, she returned and found the ice cream dish empty. The boy was gone. She picked up the empty dish—then swallowed hard.
There on the counter, next to the wet spot where the dish had been, were two nickels and five pennies. The boy had had enough for a sundae, but he had ordered plain ice cream so he could leave her a tip.
This little story was shared at my home church yesterday.
Sweet story huh? Go ahead admit it.
Our Pastor was sharing it as he was encouraging us to be a “church” that “honored” others, which is one of our “callings” or obligations if you will.
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10 (ESV)
So, that begs the question, how will you honor others today?
Paul gives some clear instruction or guidance on this…
Live together in harmony, live together in love, as though you had only one mind and one spirit between you. Never act from motives of rivalry or personal vanity, but in humility think more of each other than you do of yourselves. None of you should think only of his own affairs, but should learn to see things from other people’s point of view. – Philippians 2:3-4 (PH)
So, let’s grab a few of the practical nuggets from that passage and put them to work today as we seek to advance a culture of honor around us.
Strive to live in harmony.
This is accomplished often by choosing a path of selflessness and service rather than selfishness.
Hepburn once quipped, “It's that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. This was the whole ethic by which I was brought up. Others matter more than you do, so 'don't fuss, dear; get on with it'.”
So, don’t fuss friends, get on with it.
Think of others more than you do yourself.
Skip the sundae and be grateful for the ice cream AND the SERVICE.
But I really like what Paul encourages at the close of that 4th verse.
See things from other people’s point of view. That opens the door to honor.
A couple of weeks ago, I shared a little southern gospel song from the Talleys. Here is the link:
I think it captures the importance of trying to see things from other's point of view. Far too often we are quick to judge, quick to become impatient, quick to only be concerned with “us” that we don’t take the time to pause and put ourselves in another’s shoes, to try and focus on life through THEIR lens.
For friends when we pause and remember the waitress, when we pause and consider the needs of others before rushing to fulfill our own, we look a little more like Jesus and we indeed honor others.
Have a blessed day!
I love you all
OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE
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