I’ve been working these past days on notes for speaking
engagements that I have coming up. It
never ceases to amaze me how God will suddenly take me on a detour while I’m
studying to either teach me something new…or remind me of something I may be
neglecting.
As I was researching, I came across verses in the Bible that I
have read many, many times. But when I
read them this time, God impressed on me a new perspective. I found the verses in Philippians 1:3-8. Paul was talking about the Christians in
Philippi when he said, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to
my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you
have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you
first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work
within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when
Christ Jesus returns.
So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for
you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of
God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the
Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender
compassion of Christ Jesus.”
As I read these words, this thought came to me: Do I
ever think about what memories I give to other people? These Christians in Philippi had given Paul
such good memories because they had been so supportive and involved in his
life. How amazing that he could say that
every time he thought of them…he thanked God for them! I wonder if that is how people think when
they have thoughts about me. Or have the
memories that I have made with other people been negative ones? When they think of me, are their thoughts
about how bitter I was, or how negative I was while we were together? Or are they memories that bring them joy and
thankfulness for the time spent with me?
As I’ve shared before, the world we are living in seems to be
coming unhinged, and it is so easy to fall into the trap of being negative with
our words and actions. It is so easy to
whine and complain when we are around others, never sharing the joy of the Lord
that is supposed to be in our heart.
It’s sobering when we think that there are unsaved people listening to
us go on and on about everything that is wrong in our lives and they never hear
about what Christ has done for us. No
wonder many of them don’t want what we have because we don’t sound any better
off than they are!
Notice that Paul stated that these Christians had been partners
with him in spreading the Good News. He
didn’t say that they had been sharing their complaints, their worries and their
gossip. We have Good News that needs to
be shared from now until Christ returns and the Christians in Philippi
understood this!
Yes, the world we live in is pretty chaotic, but I think we make
it even worse by not keeping our focus on Christ. HE has done great things for us and HE is the
One who will be victorious in the end. Our
job, while still on this earth, is to make sure that others see Him in us so
that every time they think of us…they will think of Him. That my friend, should give them good
memories to ponder.
There is a song by Big Daddy Weave that goes perfectly with my
thoughts today. It’s entitled “My Story”
and some of the words are:
If I told
you my story
You would
hear Hope that wouldn't let go
And if I
told you my story
You would
hear Love that never gave up
And if I
told you my story
You would
hear Life, but it wasn't mine
If I
should speak then let it be
Of the
grace that is greater than all my sin
Of when
justice was served and where mercy wins
Of the
kindness of Jesus that draws me in
Oh to tell
you my story is to tell of Him
If I told
you my story
You would
hear victory over the enemy
And if I
told you my story
You would
hear freedom that was won for me
And if I
told you my story
You would
hear Life overcome the grave
If I
should speak then let it be
Of the
grace that is greater than all my sin
Of when
justice was served and where mercy wins
Of the
kindness of Jesus that draws me in
Oh to tell
you my story is to tell of Him
This is my
story, this is my song
Praising
my Savior all the day long
This is my
story, this is my song
Praising
my Savior all the day long
I recommend that you listen to the entire song
at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB7bAlTULqE. Remember, when our story becomes His
story…people will be drawn to us and they will have precious memories of us and
our Savior.
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