Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 26, 2017
And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34
Yesterday was my birthday and I cried tears of happiness—(and it definitely wasn’t because I hit the big 5-oh!)
The new camera my husband gave me didn’t make me weep; the scarf from my friend, Ann, didn’t make me cry. It was words that made me sob.
As my husband commenced the birthday celebration, he took my hand and led me into my office where he invited me to sit at my computer as he cued a PowerPoint presentation. “I made something special for you.” Each slide was a video or a written message from someone special in my life. As soon as I saw the name of one of my best girlfriends and began to read her words, the waterworks started—then I bawled through the whole thing.
I didn’t cry because these lovely people said, “Happy Birthday! Have a great day!” I cried because they shared how my life has touched theirs.
“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (Proverbs 16:24).
This morning, I thought about two lessons this experience taught me that I hope lift you up today.
I haven’t been able to give anyone high-dollar gifts or send them on fancy vacations so no one shared about how I blessed them materially. But each person shared some small way I had encouraged them simply by being me. I don’t share this to toot my own horn, but to make a point to encourage you.
You bless others simply by being who God created you to be.
I doubt the peacock knows its beauty, but it reveals God’s glory. You do the same just by being who God made you to be. Are you a natural encourager? Then encourage! Are you great at building things? Then build! Do you sing beautifully? Then sing!
And as you encourage, build or sing, remember how you have glorified God might not be fully known until you enter eternity. You may believe you’re not doing anything significant but everyone God creates has purpose. Just be who God has made you to be; seek to please Him, and you will affect lives.
Your words are powerful.
As I read and listened to the kind sentiments from my friends and loved ones, something that I didn’t even know has been hurting inside me was healed. The nagging question of “Does my life really matter?” was silenced with their affirming words: “You are a loyal friend.” “You have a unique ability to see the ‘diamond in the rough’ of the people you care for.” “You have been an encouragement to my heart in our every conversation.”
We all need to know that we have purpose and that others truly see us. Your words matter. Tell someone today how they have blessed you and make them cry happy.
“My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action” (1 John 3:18).
Prayer
Lord, I praise you that you have made me with purpose. My life has meaning. Help me to stay in close relationship with you so that your Spirit flows through me. Amen.Application
Write a note to a friend today and tell them the gifts you see in them, how they have blessed you and that they have made a difference in your life.Related Reading
Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 2:10, Proverbs 25:11Post/Tweet today
You bless others simply by being who God created you to be. #WisdomHunters #YourLifeMattersWorship Resource
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Today is January 9th, 2018. I really enjoyed the devotion you shared on wisdom hunters.com, and very much wanted to share in on Facebook for many of my friends who have doubts about what they are doing, and is it worth it. However when I clicked on share on Facebook, another devotion showed up. Now, it’s not that I don’t want to share the one that popped up, but it was not the one I really wanted to share. I double check whatever I post on Facebook, and know that this has happened previously. How can I make sure that the devotion is the desired one? Shanna is my favorite contributor to this devotional website. Please keep her in the loop; I can so relate to her.
Dear Dorothy,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out to us- we love hearing from our wisdom hunters! AND thank you for your lovely words regarding Shana! I will make sure she sees your kind comments.
About the FB posts: unfortunately, there can be a time delay with the posts on FB and we are trying to fix that. Have you tried copying the post from our website and then posting it on FB?
Let me look into it a bit more with the other WH staff and see if they have a solution for you. I will get back to you about that. We also post the devotionals on our WH FB page, so you all are welcome to join on FB page, too.
In the meantime, let me take a moment and thank you for sharing the devotionals with your friends. I,too, really enjoyed this devotional by Shana! “You Make a Difference Just By Being You” spoke to all of us with some basic God inspired truths that we sometimes forget in today’s culture. It was a great reminder.
I will be back in touch, Dorothy.
We are thankful for you,
Gwynne
“Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my jy and my delight.”
Psalm 43:4