As followers of Jesus we have a mission to reach out into the world around us. Christians know they are supposed to care about others. But "supposed" doesn't mean much. Reflect on this question. Where do you fall on a line between "God's love for me is all about me" and "God's love for me is all about reaching others?" Do you have a John 3:16 kind of love for the people around you? What is God saying to you about your heart for others?
3. Reflect.
Come back here and leave a comment sharing your experience of doing this one thing. How did it impact you? Was it hard or easy? What questions did it raise for you? What does God seem to be saying to you through this process?
This question of God's love has made me face an unpleasant fact. Once again I have been going about my life thinking more or less that it's all about me. How wonderful it is that God loves me. He will bless me. He will provide for me. He even let Jesus die for me. All true statements, but is it just about me. After reflecting carefully on this, I think not. It is more about those that don't yet know Him or those that are so deep in life's struggles that they have forgotten or wandered away from Him. God gave His love to me so that I would use it to show Him to others. So, I guess it's time to get off my high horse and fulfill God's purpose for me. Lord please use me as a reflection of the love that You have for every person on this Earth. Help me to remember that I am only one tiny little piece of the multi billion piece puzzle of Your amazing love!Thank You in Jesus' name! Amen!
I came across this yesterday, wanted to share it.
“....we know from daily life that we exist for other people first of all for whose smiles and well-being our own happiness depends.”
Albert Einstein
More later, but I keep remembering the words "you cannot give what you do not have". So I have found that something I can have a lot of is smiles. By extension, I can offer empathy, sympathy, compassion, understanding, encouragement, positive affirmation, kindness, a helping hand and that sort of thing. To whom? Absolutely everyone who crosses my path or comes into my vicinity.
It feels like my biggest challenge in this, is to keep my conscious focus on the idea that this IS my purpose, every day, all day, no matter where I am or who I am with, REGARDLESS of what might be going on. I am not very good at this yet, I'm lousy at it, but I recognize it as something important for me to work toward all the time and ask God for a lot of help where I need it.
So I really thought that I focused a lot on circle three. My job is a circle three-care for the world kind of job. I help a lot of people. But when I did this on paper- I realized that I am way more focused on me than on them in my heart. I don't do circle three for God, if it happens then it is purely Him through me without me even knowing it. This was a good heart work out.
Great question, Tamee. One thing is certain. God is willing to work through you in the lives of WHOEVER is in front of you. Maybe there's no clear cut answer - but you are interacting with people. Neighbors, barristas, gas station attendants. There are people that you're coming into contact with. Start there.
When things are good circle three is tangible but when I feel the sting of circumstances I quickly turn inward. I read about Paul and others who pressed on regardless of personal circumstances yet when I see myself I am reminded of a deer at the edge of the woods looking into the meadow wanting to go there but very, very cautious
Comments (9)
Tamee Harden-Blankenship said
at 9:48 pm on Sep 29, 2008
So what if you can't get a bead on who your circle three IS in your current circumstances?
Jim Huddart said
at 9:21 am on Sep 30, 2008
This question of God's love has made me face an unpleasant fact. Once again I have been going about my life thinking more or less that it's all about me. How wonderful it is that God loves me. He will bless me. He will provide for me. He even let Jesus die for me. All true statements, but is it just about me. After reflecting carefully on this, I think not. It is more about those that don't yet know Him or those that are so deep in life's struggles that they have forgotten or wandered away from Him. God gave His love to me so that I would use it to show Him to others. So, I guess it's time to get off my high horse and fulfill God's purpose for me. Lord please use me as a reflection of the love that You have for every person on this Earth. Help me to remember that I am only one tiny little piece of the multi billion piece puzzle of Your amazing love!Thank You in Jesus' name! Amen!
Gregg Swanson said
at 10:31 am on Sep 30, 2008
I came across this yesterday, wanted to share it.
“....we know from daily life that we exist for other people first of all for whose smiles and well-being our own happiness depends.”
Albert Einstein
More later, but I keep remembering the words "you cannot give what you do not have". So I have found that something I can have a lot of is smiles. By extension, I can offer empathy, sympathy, compassion, understanding, encouragement, positive affirmation, kindness, a helping hand and that sort of thing. To whom? Absolutely everyone who crosses my path or comes into my vicinity.
It feels like my biggest challenge in this, is to keep my conscious focus on the idea that this IS my purpose, every day, all day, no matter where I am or who I am with, REGARDLESS of what might be going on. I am not very good at this yet, I'm lousy at it, but I recognize it as something important for me to work toward all the time and ask God for a lot of help where I need it.
Cheryl Null said
at 6:55 pm on Oct 3, 2008
So I really thought that I focused a lot on circle three. My job is a circle three-care for the world kind of job. I help a lot of people. But when I did this on paper- I realized that I am way more focused on me than on them in my heart. I don't do circle three for God, if it happens then it is purely Him through me without me even knowing it. This was a good heart work out.
Marc Schelske said
at 9:32 pm on Oct 5, 2008
Great question, Tamee. One thing is certain. God is willing to work through you in the lives of WHOEVER is in front of you. Maybe there's no clear cut answer - but you are interacting with people. Neighbors, barristas, gas station attendants. There are people that you're coming into contact with. Start there.
Marc Schelske said
at 9:34 pm on Oct 5, 2008
I am very much looking forward to seeing what develops from that little realization, Jim.
Marc Schelske said
at 9:35 pm on Oct 5, 2008
Cool, Cheryl. Thanks for being open to try these crazy ideas!
Carl Shelton said
at 4:13 am on Oct 8, 2008
October 8, 2008
When things are good circle three is tangible but when I feel the sting of circumstances I quickly turn inward. I read about Paul and others who pressed on regardless of personal circumstances yet when I see myself I am reminded of a deer at the edge of the woods looking into the meadow wanting to go there but very, very cautious
Jim Huddart said
at 10:22 am on Oct 8, 2008
Good analogy Carl. I know that feeling well.
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