by Dona Hake
Matthew 7:12 (MSG)
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior:
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior:
Ask yourself what you want people to do for you,
then grab the initiative and do it for them.”
We all have feelings about how we desire to be treated. This scripture is exhorting us to “grab the initiative” and do for them that which you desire to be done to you. Many times this scripture is used more when something negative may happen. I want to look at it relative to just blessing and doing good. I want to stir your heart to take initiative to just be a blessing to someone…just because you want to show the love of God. If we are honest we would say that we all love when someone blesses us for no reason at all.
Today we here much about random acts of kindness. Recently I had someone bless me with much needed help while my husband was out of the country, and my heart was so grateful. To be quite honest, I can have a hard time just receiving help because I know how busy everyone is. Thank God for those times in which people bless you out of obedience to the Holy Spirit. When it is in our power to bless or help someone, I believe the Lord wants us to take initiative and do so. We live in a time in which our lives are so busy, and we must be so careful to never become so engrossed in our own little worlds that there is no time left over to be a vessel of God’s kindness and love.
I love the translation of this scripture and it fits well with living a life of giving.
Luke 6:38 Easy-to-Read Version
“Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”
Luke 6:38 Easy-to-Read Version
“Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”
Giving is not just done through money, it is done in a handful of ways. There may be someone in your path today that is heavy in heart, and just needs someone to listen to them. Think about the times that all you wanted was someone to listen to you. You may even encounter someone needing direction, and they are feeling overwhelmed. Let’s say you have walked through a similar situation and God has blessed you with wisdom relative to their experience. Are you willing to take the time and be a blessing and share your wisdom? It just may be very possible that you are the vessel in which God desires to speak His wisdom through.
There are a world of opportunities for us to do God’s Word. So grab the initiative and look for opportunities!