In the post-apocalyptic world I have created in the Toby the Trilby series, Toby must venture forth in a land full of dangers and desperate people. He has no way of knowing if people are going to become friends or enemies. He has to trust in God for discernment, and sometimes, when he cannot hear God's audible voice, he must lean on God's word from the Bible to show him what to do.
Our world may not be fraught with as many dangers, but there are still desperate people all around us. How do we show God's love without being hurt and rejected? The answer is, we can't. Every time we go out on a limb to ask someone if they need help or prayer, or simply smile at someone in the store, we risk rejection. And it hurts. A lot. But God didn't command us to "give up when we get hurt." He commanded us to go find his treasures. Who are his treasures? "The least of these."
"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your
inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:34-40
Zechariah 9:16 says "The Lord their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown."
Several times, the Apostle Paul talks about a crown Christians will receive in Heaven, including 1 Corinthians 9:25
"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."
And what is that crown? I used to wonder why we would want a crown in Heaven. Aren't the streets paved with gold and jewels? What's so special about a crown? Then it hit me like a truck of cement.
"For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the
presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed you are our glory and joy." 1Thessalonians 2:19-20
Paul was, in essence, a treasure hunter. He knew the treasure he would receive in Heaven was "jewels' shining around him, the people who would be there because he led them to Christ.
How many times do we pass up the treasures around us? How many opportunities do we have to "gather" treasures every day? We must open our eyes, put down our cell phones and search for what God would truly have us see.
Our world may not be fraught with as many dangers, but there are still desperate people all around us. How do we show God's love without being hurt and rejected? The answer is, we can't. Every time we go out on a limb to ask someone if they need help or prayer, or simply smile at someone in the store, we risk rejection. And it hurts. A lot. But God didn't command us to "give up when we get hurt." He commanded us to go find his treasures. Who are his treasures? "The least of these."
"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your
inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:34-40
Zechariah 9:16 says "The Lord their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown."
Several times, the Apostle Paul talks about a crown Christians will receive in Heaven, including 1 Corinthians 9:25
"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."
And what is that crown? I used to wonder why we would want a crown in Heaven. Aren't the streets paved with gold and jewels? What's so special about a crown? Then it hit me like a truck of cement.
"For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the
presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed you are our glory and joy." 1Thessalonians 2:19-20
Paul was, in essence, a treasure hunter. He knew the treasure he would receive in Heaven was "jewels' shining around him, the people who would be there because he led them to Christ.
How many times do we pass up the treasures around us? How many opportunities do we have to "gather" treasures every day? We must open our eyes, put down our cell phones and search for what God would truly have us see.