Thursday, July, 11, 2013

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo

 

Is ANYBODY Out There?

 

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

While growing up in my home, my mother had three housekeepers. They weren't very good....they worked for food...AND they only had an attention span of about an hour. How did my mother finally get her three housekeepers --- her CHILDREN --- to work more effectively on Saturday mornings? She discovered the secret of creating lists for each of us with specific assignments. Otherwise, she learned through experience that we would have just waited for the tasks to be miraculously completed. I wonder if my mom's cheap labor lists were a result of reading the following story...

 

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it.Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job.Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

 

Since many of us have such defined roles in our families, careers and various aspects of life that if something is not on our "list," it would be easy to say, "That's not my job."

 

However, God has an instruction manual (The Bible) of directives that were written not just for "Somebody" but for "EVERYBODY" to do. Sadly, many Christians miss the opportunity to share God's love because they are waiting for "Somebody" else to do it when indeed "Nobody" else ever comes along; it was the task that God ordained that individual to perform.

 

There are many excuses for not doing good for others.... "I don't know them..." "They may not want me to help them..." "I don't have time..." "Surely, someone else will come along..."

 

James 4:17 warns, "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." We often define sin as doing "bad," but it's more than that. Sin is withholding goodness when God has blessed us with the ability to extend His love.

 

I challenge you today to do the things that "Nobody" else will do. Remember, you are God's plan for this world!

 

Dear Lord, Forgive me for times I missed opportunities to share Your love because I thought I was too busy or it wasn't my job. Open my eyes to Your plans for me each day.

 

I thank You, my 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.