|
|
OTHERS! OTHERS! OTHERS!
|
Have you noticed how many re runs there are on television at present or new programmes cobbled together using old clips? Songs of Praise has been among them and it reminded me of their visit to Brixham. We were stationed there at the time with the Fishermen’s Mission and Paul was one of the interviewees.
It was recorded on the quayside over two days and Brixham was shown at it’s very best as the sun shone endlessly! |
|
|
One of the songs we sang still stands out for me, The Servant King
Click on the arrow to start the song. The last verse speaks to me particularly: “So, let us learn how to serve and in our lives enthrone Him. Each other’s needs to prefer, for it is Christ we’re serving.” |
So how do we do that? A tall order for today as the world majors on MY rights, MY needs, MY concerns! It seems to me that in the worlds eyes everything should be there to serve self. It’s hard to resist this mind set when it permeates the whole of society.
Christ showed us a better way, His way and left so many parables to guide us. The good Samaritan who gave up much to care for someone he didn’t know, the people He fed when others would have sent them away, the woman caught in adultery who he saved from stoning. I’m sure there are many more that come to your mind that call us to be better people than we are; more forgiving, more generous, more thoughtful and less judging.
Our way so often concentrates on our needs before others. Seemingly we think our way must be the best or the right way and makes little room for the opinions of others. What we want we seem to feel we must have even if it is at the expense of another.
We all know that in our family lives there has to be a trade off on some things to achieve balance and harmony in our homes otherwise they can become a battle ground. With love and tolerance, we can make this happen.
If we want to influence others for Christ, we must follow Him and by becoming servants we can demonstrate that a Christian group of people who join can truly become family. William Booth himself summed this up very simply,
“Others, Others, OTHERS!”
Philippians 2:2 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
Make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Ephesians 4:31-32 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
If we want to be true followers of Jesus, the Christ gave His life that we might live: we have to be obedient to His will. I know in my own life I fall short and there are things that could and should be better. An old and wise Christian lady in Brixham used to say,” You’ve got to have to have the want my dear!”
So that is the BIG question, do you have the want; really want to make a change? Be assured that if you have with the help and direction of the Holy Spirit it really is possible!
Christ showed us a better way, His way and left so many parables to guide us. The good Samaritan who gave up much to care for someone he didn’t know, the people He fed when others would have sent them away, the woman caught in adultery who he saved from stoning. I’m sure there are many more that come to your mind that call us to be better people than we are; more forgiving, more generous, more thoughtful and less judging.
Our way so often concentrates on our needs before others. Seemingly we think our way must be the best or the right way and makes little room for the opinions of others. What we want we seem to feel we must have even if it is at the expense of another.
We all know that in our family lives there has to be a trade off on some things to achieve balance and harmony in our homes otherwise they can become a battle ground. With love and tolerance, we can make this happen.
If we want to influence others for Christ, we must follow Him and by becoming servants we can demonstrate that a Christian group of people who join can truly become family. William Booth himself summed this up very simply,
“Others, Others, OTHERS!”
Philippians 2:2 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
Make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Ephesians 4:31-32 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
If we want to be true followers of Jesus, the Christ gave His life that we might live: we have to be obedient to His will. I know in my own life I fall short and there are things that could and should be better. An old and wise Christian lady in Brixham used to say,” You’ve got to have to have the want my dear!”
So that is the BIG question, do you have the want; really want to make a change? Be assured that if you have with the help and direction of the Holy Spirit it really is possible!
|
|
Click on the image to hear the song.
|
Note: This series of 'Pause for Thought' started on Monday 4th May. To find these previous thoughts go to the Archive section of the website listed under the 'more.....' tab at the top of the page. On the 'Daily Pause for Thought' section of the website we will only keep 2 weeks of contributions before putting them into the Archive.
Can you help?
In this current situation when our church doors are closed to our normal activities but our work to support those in need continues, our normal source of funds (Sunday Tithes and Offerings) have reduced dramatically. We need your help, so that we continue to be ready to meet the ongoing needs of our community that will undoubtedly impact beyond this lock down period. If you are willing to help please visit our Just Giving Page to make a donation to this work. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bedfordsa