TODAY IS…

an ideal day to give yourself a wonderful gift.

“We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.”  Romans 15:2 NLT

The greatest gift that we can give ourselves is to help another person get to know God.

Perhaps some were hoping that it would be something different, such as treating ourselves to a nice meal, or a quiet weekend at a spa, or a cruise, or even a new car, and while all of these things would be nice, every one of them is temporary. They are short-lived and, while momentarily pleasurable, fairly meaningless in the grand scheme of a Christian life.

But teaching another human being about God and the salvation that can be had through Jesus Christ; opening the doors for another individual through which lie endless possibilities for peace, joy, love, and contentment; sharing what God put in our heart with someone who hasn’t discovered it on their own yet, and watching their face light up as they realize it is in them too – these are gifts we can give to ourselves that will last forever.

We all know someone who is struggling with life itself. How can we stand by with knowledge that can help them and not share it?

“I just am not comfortable preaching,” you say.

Then don’t preach.

Share.

Give.

If it is a friend, sit them down and say, “I just want to give you something that might help you to be as happy, peaceful, joyful, and content within yourself as I am.”

Giving someone the gift of your help to find God within their heart is not about telling them what will happen if they don’t repent.

It is about opening their hearts, their minds, and their eyes to the beauty of God and all that He created. It is about revealing to someone how the grace of God can help us relieve ourselves of the terrible burdens of guilt or shame that we may carry. It is about guiding someone to the source of light that will, in turn, guide them to eternal life.

When we help another person to know God, we are giving them the incredible power of the Lord to face all of the trials and tribulations that life throws at us. We help them to understand that God loves us as we are and He wants us to love ourselves and each other. Helping someone to know God gives them the ability to be content no matter what might be taking place in their lives, and it shows them where to turn when they have fears or doubts.

When we help others find, and learn to know and love God, we give ourselves an irreplaceable gift of immeasurable value.

So go ahead and use God’s gift of this day to give yourself a wonderful gift.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson