Don't Be Shown up by a Dog!
Yesterday, Luis was on his computer and called me over to see another video of a man dying in the middle of a busy street with many lookers on doing absolutely nothing. It made me stop and wonder what kind of a world are we living in when people choose not to help someone in dire need. This is the second such video I've seen in the past months, and then there was the woman who died in a hospital waiting room with the even the staff looking on and doing nothing.
But this morning, a friend sent me this video. If you are an animal lover, you may find the beginning a bit disturbing. Hang in for the entirety of the piece. It is amazing that one dog risked his life to save another on a busy highway. If not for this brave creature, the other would have never survived his ordeal.
We live in a fast-paced, busy world with our number one idol being "ME." If it doesn't benefit ME, then I don't get involved, no matter what the situation. But how far will our society go to neglect our neighbor? How hard are our hearts when we can walk away from someone who needs our assistance--to SURVIVE?
And yet, we have a Savior who didn't think it too great to leave His holy heaven and come to us in the flesh for the purpose of sacrificing His life that we might inherit the promise of relationship with the Father. That we might live and not die, and have abundant life in Him. And while He was here, didn't He say that a servant is not better than his Master? When He left this planet, He said we would be given the Spirit that we might do greater things than He did. Did He not admonish us that if we help the poor, naked, prisoner, and widowed that we may be helping angels unaware?
It behooves us to be salt and light in this dark and selfish world. We need to understand that we are what God has chosen to use as His hands and feet to show His great love to our own mission field around us. If we cloister ourselves in little "bless me" clubs where all we do is minister to one another, the world can never receive the hope it is desperately crying out for.
Listen, we are all they have. And God has gifted us and provided for us for one reason...that we would go and preach the Gospel, not necessarily with wonderful words of wisdom and eloquence, but being a living epistle that our neighbors can read, draw from, and look to in their times of need.
Let me put it this way. Kudos to this incredible dog who saved his friend. But let's not let a dog show us up! Be someone's hero today. It may just be a hug, a smile, a helping hand, a prayer with someone in distress...I know that my blogs have said this stuff before, but it needs to be said again. Look for ways to bless someone who doesn't expect a blessing today. It is the paint that will color your world and theirs. It is God's hand extended to someone who doesn't yet know Him. Plant a seed. You may not ever get to see the harvest, but you will have begun something that will grow into a mighty oak for someone who may otherwise never have the ability to see Him without you.
And here's that video of the dog hero. Watch it, and commit to being someone else's hero today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofpYRITtLSg
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Is. 61:1-3
But this morning, a friend sent me this video. If you are an animal lover, you may find the beginning a bit disturbing. Hang in for the entirety of the piece. It is amazing that one dog risked his life to save another on a busy highway. If not for this brave creature, the other would have never survived his ordeal.
We live in a fast-paced, busy world with our number one idol being "ME." If it doesn't benefit ME, then I don't get involved, no matter what the situation. But how far will our society go to neglect our neighbor? How hard are our hearts when we can walk away from someone who needs our assistance--to SURVIVE?
And yet, we have a Savior who didn't think it too great to leave His holy heaven and come to us in the flesh for the purpose of sacrificing His life that we might inherit the promise of relationship with the Father. That we might live and not die, and have abundant life in Him. And while He was here, didn't He say that a servant is not better than his Master? When He left this planet, He said we would be given the Spirit that we might do greater things than He did. Did He not admonish us that if we help the poor, naked, prisoner, and widowed that we may be helping angels unaware?
It behooves us to be salt and light in this dark and selfish world. We need to understand that we are what God has chosen to use as His hands and feet to show His great love to our own mission field around us. If we cloister ourselves in little "bless me" clubs where all we do is minister to one another, the world can never receive the hope it is desperately crying out for.
Listen, we are all they have. And God has gifted us and provided for us for one reason...that we would go and preach the Gospel, not necessarily with wonderful words of wisdom and eloquence, but being a living epistle that our neighbors can read, draw from, and look to in their times of need.
Let me put it this way. Kudos to this incredible dog who saved his friend. But let's not let a dog show us up! Be someone's hero today. It may just be a hug, a smile, a helping hand, a prayer with someone in distress...I know that my blogs have said this stuff before, but it needs to be said again. Look for ways to bless someone who doesn't expect a blessing today. It is the paint that will color your world and theirs. It is God's hand extended to someone who doesn't yet know Him. Plant a seed. You may not ever get to see the harvest, but you will have begun something that will grow into a mighty oak for someone who may otherwise never have the ability to see Him without you.
And here's that video of the dog hero. Watch it, and commit to being someone else's hero today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofpYRITtLSg
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Is. 61:1-3
Thank-you, Kathy for reminding us to look beyond ourselves to the needs of others. It's too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Let's take time to be a blessing.
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