JANUARY 7, 2015
Where
Can I Help?
Read: Galatians
6:1-10
As we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who
are of the household of faith. —Galatians
6:10
Last winter our city
was hit by an ice storm. Hundreds of ice-heavy tree limbs cut into power lines,
leaving thousands of homes and businesses without electrical power for days.
Our family kept basic energy coming into the house through a generator, but we
were still unable to cook meals. As we set out to find a place to eat, we drove
for miles past closed businesses. We finally found a breakfast restaurant that
had not lost power, but it was packed with hungry customers who were in the
same fix as we were.
When a woman came over
to take our order for food, she said, “I’m not really an employee of this
restaurant. Our church group was having breakfast here, and we saw how the
staff was overwhelmed with so many customers who came in. We told the
restaurant management we would be willing to help by waiting on tables if it
would ease the burden and help people to get fed.”
Her willingness to
serve reminded me of Paul’s words: “As we have opportunity, let us do good to
all” (Gal. 6:10). In light of the many needs around us, I wonder what could
happen if we all asked God to show us opportunities to serve Him and help
others today.
Dear Lord, show us where and how we might
serve others and ease their burdens. Give us
hearts of love and compassion that reflect
Your love. Then help us to take action.
We
follow the example of Christ when we serve people in need.
Insight
The letter to the
Galatians is one of the most intense in the New Testament. Paul was dealing
with a legalistic Judaism seeking to impose the demands of the law upon people
who had, by faith, embraced grace in Christ. This legalism was intended to pull
those followers of Christ back into a performance-oriented approach to pleasing
God. Our service for God is to come from an overflowing heart of appreciation
for His love for us.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012