Making a Difference

Meditation
Zechariah 7:9—“The LORD of Hosts says this: Make fair decisions.  Show faithful love and compassion to one another.”
 
It is cold outside—twelve degrees above zero.  Snow is on the ground and from inside my office window it looks beautiful.  It’s a matter of perspective.  December can be a wonderful time of warmth for many people; a chance to be with family, to take a break from work and to enjoy each other’s company.  But I could equally write that this month is a frozen, depressing period for many people; the reminder that loved ones are gone, unemployment a reality, and a feeling that few care or understand.

When we moved to Colorado, after finding a church, my oldest son, Bryan and I, joined a fire team—a small group of men committed to fellowship and spiritual growth. I’m so glad we did. In our group is a dad whose young daughter passed away almost two years ago.  For Kyle and his wife, Rachel, Christmas is a difficult period. So this year, our team decided to do something special. We pitched in enough money to send them to a resort after Christmas when they return from visiting family.  Instead of coming back to an empty house, Kyle and Rachel can spend time healing together in a fun place knowing that we care about them. 

Making a difference in peoples’ lives is accomplished through faithful love and compassion.  This is just one reason why it is so important to be involved in fellowship. It was never God’s plan for us to be alone. His intent is that we gather together for mutual encouragement. Hope, joy, laughter, tears, storytelling, accountability, friendship and worship are best nourished in the company of fellow believers. Inwardly, we feed each other as a team by breaking bread together, sharing Scripture and praying for each other.  Outwardly, we will extend empathy by gifting a needy, single mother in the community on Christmas.  

​Are you trying to follow Jesus on your own?  May I encourage you to find a group of believers and fellowship with them? Yes, there may be awkward moments and challenges—there are no perfect people this side of heaven. But there are plenty of God’s children who would like to make a difference in your life and I suspect you would love to be a blessing to others!  Something to think about . . . in reveration!
            
Inspiration
Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours.  Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.—Saint Teresa of Avila
 
©2016 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)