Thank you for all the encouraging e mails yesterday about our friends across the street. As police, detectives and a host of other law enforcement come and go it is a constant reminder of what happened. Jim who I became good friends with was confined to a wheelchair because of his diabetes. But I got to know him. Would I have got to know him if I just saw a man in a wheelchair that was not a pilot? I hope so. But it was our love for flying that drew us together. When Jim was younger he was the pilot for a former President of the United States. He was head attorney for the Pilots Union, A Captain with many Type ratings in various jet aircraft. He was also a Senator for the State of Georgia before he got hired with the Airlines. The stories go on and on.
But again would I have spent time with Jim if he wasn’t a pilot? What I want to try to get across to your today are two things. One is that everyone has a unique story to their life. The second is there are many opportunities each day for us to encourage on another.
139:13-16 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be”
If you EVER look down upon someone else, think you are better or are not interested in someone because of what they cannot do for you then think of this next statement. You are really saying to God that you are better than them. That God made you better. NO, God did not make you better than the homeless person or the person in a wheelchair. He just made you different, NOT better. If you have had a roadblock to your prayer’s you may be harboring this pride where you pass up people who need an encouraging word because they cannot further your little kingdom here on earth.
Since the above verse says that ALL your days are numbered you cannot outrun the day that God has already set for you to leave this earth. Let us stop storing up our little treasure and little kingdom and get on the Lords side of helping the lost know Him.
The second part is the opportunities that we have. Being in the corporate world for many years I was bale to see that many people only speak and spend time with those who can further their agenda or their little kingdom. I say little kingdom as anything other than God’s kingdom is little and turns to dust.
Ephesians 5:15-17 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
When God says to make the most of every opportunity that is not to just stuff you bank account more. NOTHING you have here can you take with you when you take your last breath. The only thing we can take with us is the joy in knowing that we were able to lead others to Jesus. If you want to build a big business without the Lords direction there is a frightening story about this in Luke 12:13-21.
I know for certain that God WILL put people in your path today to speak with. The choice is yours. Will you walk by, will you look down on them, will you say a discouraging word, will you scheme against them or will you look at them AS THE SAME AS YOU????
God tests us through the things that are a barrier between you and God. One of the biggest barriers is our time. I don’t have time to talk to you injured person. Don’t you know who I am, what I have to do and that things will not get done without me. Listen, since the Lord can use an ass to get things done He can do things without you being there.
Hebrews 13:1,2 “Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
SLOW DOWN and help others today. Many need your help.
Brad
