The premise for today’s devotional is that the places we go/live/work/sit/walk should be different because we were there. Our presence should be noticeable, nor because of us, but because we made a positive difference.
“Give, friends. Be brave enough to put yourself, your wants, your money, and your time second place, so that what you have—what God’s given you to steward—makes a difference wherever you go.” Annie F. Downs, 100 Days To Brave
How does it feel to think our wants should come after the needs of others? The gospel of Mark quotes Jesus as declaring his followers must surely deny themselves. In other gospels too Jesus tells how the love of money and the hoarding of possessions are barriers or stumbling blocks. In my self-centredness I often put my wants and my comfort above that of others. That’s embarrassing to admit. Does that frustrated stranger in line, that impatient retail assistant, that officious bank clerk, that unhelpful administrator, that angry client, leave an encounter with me feeling loved and built-up? Many times, the answer would be no. How is it I can be generous and kind when I’m in a ‘missions mindset’ but fall short when I’m on a shopping/banking/admin mission of my own? How is it I can drop spare change in the tin of a homeless person when walking out of my church but fail to share my time or meals or possessions with my next door neighbours?
The prayer I have for myself today is that God will fill me with generosity. I don’t want to be stingy. I don’t want to hoard possessions or food or money for myself. I don’t want to spend my time only on things for me. God, help me release what I have to generously bless others. May I not hold onto a single thing. And may I treat those I love the most, those I live with, the same way I would treat those with whom I serve at church or those I would serve on a missions trip. (Just being honest… sometimes I can be short tempered with the people I live with who are by all accounts my first mission field.)
How did today’s devotion from Downs speak to you?