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.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Micah 1-3 Acts 21:1-17
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