Thursday, February 21, 2013
By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo
Uh, YOU'RE WELCOME!
Matthew 10:42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.
I can remember sitting in my high school math class like it was yesterday. I sat by a girl who had a very rough disposition and mostly kept to herself. One day, she fell asleep in class. Another one of the students tried to get the entire class to "hush" so that they could hear her snoring.
I knew I had to respond and had to respond quickly. I turned around to the student who was trying to rally the class and loudly encouraged her to stop. (At 16, I hadn't yet acquired the skill of quietly taking charge of a situation--lol.)
My reaction woke the student up and spared her from embarrassment. Later, I learned that this girl had worked until 3am that morning to support her elderly mother. I was able to explain the situation to our teachers, and together, we began tutoring her. She was a brilliant girl!
Today's verse says that what you do for the "least," God will reward. This girl could have easily been "thrown out" by society, but the Lord cared enough about her to give a teenager the passion to help. When we are faithful to His prompting, God will "reward" us on this earth and eternally.
Maybe you have felt like your efforts for others often go unappreciated or like your diligence at work, home, church or in your community is taken for granted. If so, it's okay. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "...WHATEVER you do, do it ALL for the glory of God."
You can be assured that although your actions may be unnoticed by people, God notices and will bless you greater than any individual ever could. That sure makes doing the laundry--that no one thanks you for--a little less discouraging, right?
I challenge you to face each individual that you encounter and assignment that you assume with grace and excellence AND to always test your motives. I love this quote: "Character is defined by what you do for those who can do nothing for you." What are you doing for the "least" of these (whether it's appreciated or not) as described in today's verse?
Dear Lord, THANK YOU for Your unfailing love and for EVERYTHING You do for me. Help me to love ALL people with that kind of grace.
I thank You Jesus for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life. In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
