What if you could make someone laugh right now, would you?
What if you could give someone grace right now, could you?
What if you had the opportunity to smile at a stranger, would you?
What if you had to ask for grace and forgiveness, could you?
In our world of immediate gratification and instant access we can sometimes get lost in the distraction of technology. Our world can seemingly be so large that others can sometimes appear on the outside.
In the days of Jesus, He and His disciples would venture from town to town, giving personal attention and care to thousands of individuals they had never met previously. And the relationships built within the confines of this group set the course for life change; not only for the young men involved, changing their trajectory; but would also serve to change the lives of so many more who chose to follow our Great Mentor.
So, our beautiful Savior not only taught us to Love one another, He lived it! In John 15:11-12, Jesus shares "I have told you this, so that my joy may be in You and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." Jesus wanted us to laugh, He wanted us to know joy and to be able to share joy with others. Paul shares in Ephesians 5:1-2 "Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Per wiki.answers, In the King James version, the word servant is mentioned 489 times, servants 476 times, serve 209 times, service 132 times, served 74 times. The word Love appears 314 times. The word and derivatives for forgive occur 116 times. Grace appears 170 times. Out of 823,156 words in the KJV, God has shared that Serve, Love, Forgive and Grace make up 1980 of these words or .24% of any reference He has given. In other words, these are pretty important topics to our Creator.
So, how do we put this into action, in our fast paced environment? Well, Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there is A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. Ephesians 4:32 teaches us to Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. Galatians 6:2 shares: Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Sounds like a tall order, but when put into action we experience the greatest Love which has ever been given. The Love of Christ. YES, as we give Love, He gives Love . . . and so the circle of life continues. We can find these actions in playing a board game with a loved one, buying lunch for an unsuspecting stranger, cutting the grass for a neighbor, smiling to a fellow shopper. And to give grace where there seems to be none, yes to forgive even when you don't think you can.
So our woulda, coulda, shouldas become will do, can do, even have to. And not because we have been instructed to do so, but because His Love flows through us and circles back to us. We don't "have to", we "get to".
So Laugh, Give Grace, Smile and receive grace, all the while loving as a vessel of The King. His Love is never-ending, His Grace is as deep as The East is from the West. As He pours into us, we then pour into others. And watch, your life too will change. Receive His Joy so Your Joy may be complete. Guaranteed.
Father, thank You for Your Joy, for Your Love, for Your Grace and forgiveness. As we receive these from You, teach us to share with others. I pray Father that we have many opportunities to laugh, to smile, to dance and to serve others as You have taught. Enjoying the Life to the full that You have promised, and sharing these beautiful gifts with those You have placed in our lives.
We Love You
Your Daughter
