LifeLink Devotions

Thursday, September 8, 2022

I’ve been doing some real hard thinking about actions and attitudes, and their effect on others. Peter addresses that issue in today’s Scripture, and over the next couple of days I want to share some practical applications of the truths presented.

1 Peter 2:11-12   “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

Let’s start today with some quotes from famous people that will stimulate your thinking.

“Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.” Mark Twain

“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” John Wooden, former UCLA basketball coach,

“Faith and works should travel side by side. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again—until you can scarcely distinguish which is one and which is the other.”   William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army

“Love talked about can be easily turned aside, but love demonstrated is irresistible.”   W. Stanley Mooneyham

“For it is the will of God that with well-doing we should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”    Richard Baxter

In Conspiracy of Kindness, Steve Sjogren tells the true story of Joe Delaney and his eight-year-old son, Jared, who were playing catch in their backyard.

Jared asked, “Dad, is there a God?” Joe replied that he went to church only a few times when he was a kid; he really had no idea. Jared ran into the house. “I’ll be right back!” he yelled.

Moments later he returned with a helium balloon from the circus, a pen, and an index card. “I’m going to send God an airmail message,” Jared explained.

“Dear God,” wrote Jared, “if you are real, and you are there, send people who know you to Dad and me.” “God, I hope you’re watching,” Joe thought, as they watched the balloon and message sail away.

Two days later, Joe and Jared pulled into a car wash sponsored by Sjogren’s church. When Joe asked, “How much?” Sjogren answered, “It’s free. No strings attached. We just want to show God’s love in a practical way.”

“Are you guys Christians, the kind of Christians who believe in God?” Joe asked. Sjogren said, “Yes, we’re that kind of Christians.”

From that encounter, Steve led Joe to faith in Christ. Many people may be only one act of kindness from meeting a true Christian.

Several years ago I had 1,000 cards printed that gave our church people an opportunity to show the love of God to others by paying for their drive-through purchases at fast food restaurants. Many people used the cards. I’ve had the opportunity to meet three people who were thankful for the gift of love they received. What are you intentionally doing every day to meet people with an attitude of love so they may open their hearts to the greatest Gift they could ever receive – Jesus Christ.

Let your actions speak loudly for Jesus.

Pastor John