December 23, 2024

Evidence

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It’s not a flag on a field

It’s not a sign in my yard
Not a cause that I join
Not a phrase on a coin
It’s the change in my heart

Mercy and grace and compassion
They’re only words without action

I need hands that are open
Reaching out to broken hearts
Cuz’ that’s the only way this world
Will ever know who You are
Love is the evidence
Love is the evidence

Might be the pain that you share
Might be the time that you spend
Or the war you don’t fight
Backing down from your pride
After all in the end

My life wasn’t changed by an argument
That never would have been enough
My life was changed by the evidence of love

Your hands that were open
Reaching out to my broken heart

  Citizens Way

  *  ~   ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  

For I was hungry, and you fed Me.
I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink.
I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home.
I was naked, and you gave Me clothing.
I was sick, and you cared for Me.
I was in prison, and you visited Me.’
Then these righteous ones will reply,

‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?
Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Or a stranger and show you hospitality?
Or naked and give you clothing?
When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth,
when you did it to one of the least of these
my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 25:35-40 NLT

One day we will stand before Jesus and He will speak to us, His sheep.  There will be one line on the right and one line on the left.  To some He will say; “Oh you, righteous and obedient sheep, I was in prison and you visited Me. I was hungry and you fed Me. I was thirsty and you gave Me water. I was homeless and you took Me in. I was needy and you met My needs.

To the others He will say: “I was in prison and you didn’t come visit Me.  I was hungry and you didn’t give Me food.  I was thirsty and you gave Me no water.  I was cold and you gave Me no clothes. I had no home and you did not invite Me in.”  They will say; “Lord, when were You thirsty and hungry? When were You in prison? When were You homeless? When did I not clothe You?”

He will answer: “If you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto Me.”

Jesus calls us to love each other.  More and more we are to love all of God’s people.  Love changes lives.  You may not be able to change the world for everyone but you can change the world for one person just by investing in them and loving them and being Jesus to them. How can we do this?  We cannot do anything on our own, my friends…we have to cry out to Jesus to change our hearts and to make them like His.

If only we could all do this—be intentional with our time here on earth and seek those who are in need and ask Him what we can do. Anyone come to mind?  If not, I pray this week that God opens your eyes to someone that you can bless.  In return, you will be blessed!

   *  ~   ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  

Let us pray:
Dearest Lord, You are amazing and loving and the Blesser of our lives.  You give so much love to each one of us.  You give us a life of abundance and we praise You for it all.  Oh Lord, may we be Your hands and feet to the hurting and needy of this world.  Help us to be intentional about our lives and live to love all people and serve them as You do.  Open our hearts, Lord, to receive the message that You want us to spread—the love of Jesus is so much that He died for them so that they can live with You forever.  As this song says, ” that’s the only way this world will ever know who You are…“.  We love You, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Thank You Jesus, I love You

Dear Lord,

How is it possible to find the right words to say for what You have done for me? How do I begin to express the feelings I have towards You? How do I begin to tell You what You mean to me?

Open my eyes, Lord, to find the answers I am so desperately in need of!

It is hard to find the words to say when I am telling them to Someone who already knows what words I will choose before I even think of them.

I could do search my heart all day long for the most meaningful words I can think of and all I am left with is Thank You, Jesus, I love You!

How is thank You enough? Are there any words that have more of an effect than thank You does? How can I love You, Jesus be enough for all You have done and continue to do for me? But yet, I find myself saying…

You created me just how You wanted me to be—special—for Your perfect purpose. Thank You, Jesus, I love You!

You loved me more than anything else, You chose me and continue to choose me! Thank You, Jesus, I love You.

You left Heaven for me. You traded a Heavenly delight for this sinful world. Thank You, Jesus, I love You!

You lived a way in which You suffered through all of my sufferings, You felt all of my pain, You were tempted in every way possible. However, You did not lose faith, You did not lose heart, and You remained perfect still. You know where I am, because You have been there too. Thank You, Jesus, I love You!

You died on a cross, taking my penalty for my sin. You conquered the grave so that I may live a free life WITH YOU! Thank You, Jesus, I love You.

You forgive me for all of my yuckiness. You have transformed my life. You have healed my broken heart. You have protected me from a dangerous someone who tried to destroy my life. You loved me even when I seemed unlovable. You gave my heart and life a new song, full of Your praises. You comfort me, You make yourself known to me, You give me a peace that is unexplainable. And these are just the beginning. I could go on and on, forever and ever, about Your faithfulness, goodness, joy, beauty, perfectness, and love in my life. Do you believe that the only words I can find in response to this are, Thank You, Jesus, I love You?

I know it to be true that there will never be any words this side of Heaven to be able to even come close to having a worthy response for all Jesus has done for me.

I know God loves my words of praises and thankfulness. I know God’s heart smiles when He hears the sweet sound of my words of adoration towards Him. But my actions…does He react the same to my actions?

“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, I 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: 35-40

Lord, I was the least of these and You helped me.

After reading this how can I not turn my Thank You Jesus, I love You into ACTION? Acting out those words I say to God every day, is how I can find a way to make those words all I truly believe in my heart they are meant to mean to God’s heart. My actions are from my heart to His they are for HIM alone. When I see the least of these I see myself so much in their faces. I know their pain…I was there once. God has said the same about me. He fed me, He gave me something to drink, He invited me into HIS home, He clothed me, He never stopped visiting me in my pool of disobedience.

Once again, You have opened my eyes to see the answers You have for me. When I cannot find the words to say, all I can do is act. I open my eyes to the least of these, and serve them, relate to them. I use my past disobedience as a way to help them. You thank Jesus through your actions. You love Him through your actions. My serving heart is the “right words I have been trying to find to say to God.”

As for me, my motto will surely be, Let the words of my heart overflow unto the least of these!

Thank you, Jesus, I love You!

© Diane Meyers

Questions for Reflection:

  1. What do you thank and love Jesus for.  List them out.  Revisit this list frequently, each time thanking God that you are able to have such a list!
  2. Would you like to share my motto with me?  Let’s all join together, lifting each other up in prayer as we let our words be used in the lives of the least of these all around us!
  3. Have you ever just been in complete awe of God’s goodness, faithfulness, love, grace, (I could go on and on)…?  Seriously do this:  Have a worship concert in your car, shower, bedroom, ANYWHERE, for God alone.  Don’t worry who will hear you singing, just let your words be a sweet, sweet sound in the Lord’s ear!