By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us,
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17But if anyone has the
world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him,
how does God's love abide in him? 18Little children, let us not love in word or
talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3: 16-18
Most of you would agree, 'Life is filled with all kinds of nasty nuisances.'
Most of the time we can't or choose not to do anything about such
inconveniences.
Of course... there is that man in New Jersey who lives by the side of a great
national highway.
Recently, he was seen out in the middle of the thoroughfare. Keeping one eye on
the traffic, he kept the other on a large hole which he was filling up.
He had to dump, and tamp down, the contents of four five-gallon pails before he
managed to have that hole filled.
When a reporter asked him, "Why?" The man had a reply.
He said, "Filling the hole took me only a few minutes... but I probably saved
motorists hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars in repair bills. It was a job
which needed to be done, and I wasn't all that busy."
Impressed? Me, too. Are you more impressed if I tell you that man doesn't own a
car?
In our text for today, John reminds Christians that they are to reflect the love
and sacrifice of the Savior to those around them.
In short, we shouldn't just complain about, swear at, or leave untouched the
potholes we come across.
Motivated by Jesus' gift of salvation and forgiveness we should do something to
help smooth out the road for others. As John said, "let us not love in word or
talk... but in deed and in truth."
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for a Savior who has, through His life, suffering, death,
and rising fixed the road which leads to heaven, may I be thankful. Further, may
my thanks show itself in doing what can be done for others. In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus Lutheran Hour Ministries http://www.lhm.org/ all rights reserved; not to be duplicated without permission.
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