I have read many books in my lifetime. However, my
favorites are Autobiographies or Biographies. My husband told me the other day
that I am a people lover. I suppose that is true due to the fact that I have my
Father's genes. My Father, referring to my Heavenly Father. He is the one who
instills love in our hearts for Him as well as His most treasured creation,
People. People, because we are the ones who are made in His Image. "Male
and Female created He them." Genesis 1:27 and 5:2. We can all be people
lovers if we allow His Commandments, to love Him with all our hearts and our
neighbors the same, to take root and grow within us. There are many things in
this life we value. We take care of the Earth because we value it. We value
wealth. We value our homes, our lands, our vehicles, our livestock, our pets
(perhaps not in this order). These are all things that serve us. Some of our
most valued treasures are photographs of family members and friends. Why?
Because we value those depicted in those photos. In a disaster, most of us
would labor desperately to salvage as many as we were able. I have always
valued my Bible because I love the Word of God and the Promises that are mine.
As I have walked with the Lord through the years I have attempted to do as King
David and "hide his words in my heart" by memorizing and meditating
on them and speaking them and of them. If I were unable to grab my physical
Bible, God's Words would still be with me. Pictures on the other hand would be
difficult to re-create. These days, our cell phones,
tablets and computers are the keepers of our beloved photos so they would be
the first to accompany us in times of emergency. I must say that a few years
ago when the flames were licking the outside of the fifth wheel in which I was
living, I failed to think of anything else to grab except my little long-haired
Chihuahua, Rusty and the hand of my Husband, now in Heaven, to help him down
the steps to safety. I was his caregiver at the time. I prayed desperately that
the Lord would save my home and he graciously did. For reasons only He knows,
that is not always the case. The Bible tells us
to "serve one another". In the end, people are most valued. In the
World's thinking, which is upside down, the things that serve us, possessions
and the like, are the things we seem to value most. In God's thinking, which is
RIGHT side up, we are to serve people without expectation of being served in
return. We would be nowhere without "one another". I think of the
true story in Exodus Chapter 17 when Moses held up his staff to enable the
Israelite Army to defeat the Amalekites. When Moses would become weak in this
task, his companions, Aaron and Hur would hold his arms up. If his arms
dropped, the opposing side would begin to take advantage. I see all of us at
times in need of strength from another to continue to walk in Victory. We are
not on this earth for "things" but for people. We never know when an
act of kindness or a word of encouragement or coming alongside to pray can be
the pivotal point needed in someone's life. We were not meant to walk this walk
alone. In Christ we are called to be "one" even as God the Father and
Jesus the Son are "one". John chapter 17. Another great verse is:
"Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2. I am a people lover! I love my Brothers and Sisters in Christ
and I love those who have yet to come into a saving knowledge of Christ. The
Book of Jude tells us to build ourselves up in our most holy Faith and after
that to "Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them
from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-- hating even the
clothing stained by corrupted flesh." Sin is ugly; it is dirty; it is
shameful; it stinks; it is repulsive! However the Bible says, "For ALL
have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. "If
we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in
us." I John 1:10. One way we can hold up the arms of the weak is to
encourage them with these words that Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior, can
forgive their sins and cleanse them on their initial receiving of Him and in
those times they may fall down during their journey toward Heaven! I John 1:9
was written to Believers: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." To
those who are just beginning their walk and to those who have been walking for
many years, I encourage you to reach out and hold up the arms of another and
allow them in turn to hold up your arms. As we do this, we will see the enemy
of us all, the devil and his tactics fall and fail before us. We are not alone!
Encourage one another, pray for one another. Value one another above the earth
and it's possessions! It and they will fade away, but the one who overcomes
will receive the Crown of Life... Now that IS a possession worth reaching for!
