“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.”—1 John 4:7 (NLT)
Having faith means we live like Jesus by loving others because it is something we genuinely desire. We don’t do it out of obligation. We are the hands and feet of Jesus in our broken and hurting world longing for hope.
We can’t possibly meet every need of who is put in our pathway, but we may be able to respond with an encouraging word or smile that will lift them up. Noticing someone with a smile or eye contact shows they are seen.
As I was checking out at the Dollar Tree a few weeks ago, a customer walked in with a smile and greeted the clerk. I said to the clerk, isn’t that friendliness refreshing? She said, Yes, it really is. You are one of those people too. I thanked her and told her I also appreciated her kindness as well. She has been the recipient of one of my knit gifts. It warmed my heart that she remembered my gesture.
While someone may be smiling and greeting you on the outside because it is their job, we don’t know their silent battles. Us recognizing their greeting as we enter the store, acknowledges their presence.
Living close to Jesus is when we imitate what is good. We have a desire to selflessly do good things in the name of Jesus. As I walk in God’s ways of loving others, an unselfish heart is cultivated. The more we do things out of love and not for recognition, the easier it is for us.
While our memories may fade on how we have helped others over the years, God’s does not. He sees all we do in love in the name of Jesus. Our serving, encouraging and being kind to others may go unnoticed by others, but it isn’t ever overlooked by God.
What is so amazing about God’s grace and mercy is how He does forget our sins and remembers our acts of love for others. Small acts of kindness and compassion touch God’s heart. Loving others is a way for us to express our love for God.
This past week I had an opportunity to bless someone whose job was to pick up trash from the hallways at the Dallas Marker Center. As he was emptying trashcans outside the showroom where I was working, I made eye contact with him and told him how much I appreciated what he was doing and that I had a gift I wanted to bless him with. I gave him a tumbler that had a felted cozy on it with a Chick-fil-A gift card inside of it.
I could tell from his response that he wasn’t thanked very often for what he was doing. After that, whenever he would see me, he would smile and nod his head. Letting someone know you notice them and the good job they are doing can be exactly what they need to keep on keeping on.
Where can you show God’s love this week in our broken and hurting world?
Father God,
Use me to shine the light of Your grace to others. Show me where I can share kindness to make someone’s day a little better. May I speak words of encouragement to brighten someone’s day. Help me to daily grow in Your love. I lift those up to You who are apprehensive to approach someone to share Your love with them. I ask for You to give them the courage to speak words of life into someone that You put in their pathway this week. I pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
October Verse
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”—Matthew 7:24 (NLT)
If you are knitting or crocheting gifts to give away, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make.