Was It Something I Said?

 

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Our assistant pastor, David Cowart, spoke the other night and said, “People make a place beautiful.” Have you found your place?

He shared a story about visiting a place of business and discovering that we may choose whether we come back, based on how we’re treated by the employees there.

You go into a local store and are treated poorly; the employees treat you as if you’re a burden rather than their bread-n-butter. But go to the same store, in a different location and you’re treated like royalty, where the employees go above and beyond to meet your needs. In the future, whether you consciously make the decision to or not, you may find yourself driving out of your way to go to the location where you felt valued.

While I’m not an employee representing a business, I am a Christian, and I represent the body of Christ. Maybe I need to consider more closely, how I treat the people around me.

Am I the woman in the foyer at church that people run up to and greet with a smile on their face? Or do I noticed people seem to deliberately walk in another direction when they see me? Or maybe worse, do I feel invisible standing there? When you’re at work, are you the man they ask for help, or purposely avoid?

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When we look at the people that are part of our everyday interactions, are the people we feel more comfortable talking with the ones that complain all the time, or the ones who listen when someone else is speaking, the know-it-alls, or the ones we know have a favor to ask us, or the ones that we believe are judging us by what they say or the way they look at us?

What makes us decide who we trust with a concern or ask for advice? How do people make us feel valued and respected?

We all feel and act differently when interacting with the many different people in our lives. But, looking at how these people either put us off, or allow us to feel welcome in their lives, might help us better see why people relate to us the way they do.

Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We can’t be all things to all people. But, do we leave people thinking that life is beautiful? If someone is judging the body of Christ based on their interactions with us (not saying that’s fair) do they see the servant’s heart that Jesus showed us? Are we pointing them to Jesus, or do they see no difference between us and the people they know who have no hope at all?

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We can’t dictate how other people feel, but what can we do, personally, so that the people God brings across our path know that they are valued and loved?  

When you interact with others today, whether it’s serving your children breakfast, taking care of a customer at work, or waiting in a check-out line, what can you do differently, so that the people around you recognize the love of God in you?

In Matthew 22:39 Jesus tells us, “…You shall love your neighbor as yourself…” But just before His crucifixion, Jesus ups the ante. In John 13:34 He says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

How do we do that? You can’t share something you don’t have. You can’t pour out love if you’re empty, yourself. But, if you’ve invited the Spirit of God to live inside of you, you have everything you need. If you haven’t asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life, now is the time to do that.

““Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts.” -  Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)

Before we can share love, we have to seek the One Who IS love. He has all the answers. Whether we’re speaking to Him directly in prayer, or reading and meditating on His Word, He’s already equipped us and He’ll show us what to do.

“Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” -Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)

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