In the bag?

03.30.21—Brotherly Love! – Galatians 5:14

My friend, may I ask you a question? Things or people? If asked that question, would you or I be able to answer it honestly? Which would really be more important in the end?

My friend, life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I’m M. Clifford Brunner

If you were asked this question: “What’s more important; things or people?” How would you reply? Recently, in a blind study, a group of twenty college students were asked this question. And, predictably, the result was unanimous. Every one of the students opted to put people before materials things. However, each of the students was also asked to answer that question in a “warm-up” exercise where they were actually, without knowing it, hooked up to a lie detector. The results were the same except that the detector caught eight out of the twenty actually answering falsely.

Things or people? If asked that question, would you and I be able to answer it honestly?

Here’s a story: An incident is told about two soldiers who had recently been released from a prison camp in Siberia following World War II. “We did our best,” said an officer, “to repatriate the men as fast as possible, but many were still there when winter threatened to close up the port.” Only a limited number could board the last small boat. Among those waiting to be transported were two who had been chums all through the war. One of them was selected, but the other seemed doomed to remain behind. An order was given that those who were leaving could take only one important item of luggage. The heart of the man who was chosen went out to his buddy, so he emptied his duffel bag of its prized souvenirs and his personal belongings and told his companion to get into the canvas sack. Then carefully lifting the bag on his shoulders, he boarded the ship with his friend as his single, most precious possession.

This man truly loved his neighbor as himself. The things of this world are a great temptation and it is not at all surprising that their allure can be so intoxicating that, in our hearts, they might be able to replace the love of others with the love of stuff. Let’s face it, where we seek our pleasure is often where we put our value. But, how do we keep people first, stuff second? Take a look today at your heart. Picture it for the moment as that prisoner’s duffel bag. What’s in the bag? If it’s filled with worry and concern over the “things” of this life, there probably isn’t much room for love. Empty things out daily so that your heart might be prepared to receive a more precious cargo–the love of neighbor over the love of stuff.

We pray. Heavenly Father. The things of this world are a great temptation and it is not at all surprising that their allure can be so intoxicating that, in our hearts, Lord, they might be able to replace the love of others with the love of stuff. Forgive us Father when we accumulate so much stuff, filling up the spaces of our heart, that we forget what You have commanded and You place the greatest importance on: loving our neighbor. Send Your Spirit to help us put our value where it belongs. If our heart is filled with worry and concern over the “things” of this life, there won’t be much room for love. Help us to empty things out daily so that our hearts might be prepared to receive a more precious cargo–the love of neighbor over the love of stuff. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to "This Passing Day!"

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

In the bag?

03.30.21—Brotherly Love! – Galatians 5:14

My friend, may I ask you a question? Things or people? If asked that question, would you or I be able to answer it honestly? Which would really be more important in the end?

My friend, life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I’m M. Clifford Brunner

If you were asked this question: “What’s more important; things or people?” How would you reply? Recently, in a blind study, a group of twenty college students were asked this question. And, predictably, the result was unanimous. Every one of the students opted to put people before materials things. However, each of the students was also asked to answer that question in a “warm-up” exercise where they were actually, without knowing it, hooked up to a lie detector. The results were the same except that the detector caught eight out of the twenty actually answering falsely.

Things or people? If asked that question, would you and I be able to answer it honestly?

Here’s a story: An incident is told about two soldiers who had recently been released from a prison camp in Siberia following World War II. “We did our best,” said an officer, “to repatriate the men as fast as possible, but many were still there when winter threatened to close up the port.” Only a limited number could board the last small boat. Among those waiting to be transported were two who had been chums all through the war. One of them was selected, but the other seemed doomed to remain behind. An order was given that those who were leaving could take only one important item of luggage. The heart of the man who was chosen went out to his buddy, so he emptied his duffel bag of its prized souvenirs and his personal belongings and told his companion to get into the canvas sack. Then carefully lifting the bag on his shoulders, he boarded the ship with his friend as his single, most precious possession.

This man truly loved his neighbor as himself. The things of this world are a great temptation and it is not at all surprising that their allure can be so intoxicating that, in our hearts, they might be able to replace the love of others with the love of stuff. Let’s face it, where we seek our pleasure is often where we put our value. But, how do we keep people first, stuff second? Take a look today at your heart. Picture it for the moment as that prisoner’s duffel bag. What’s in the bag? If it’s filled with worry and concern over the “things” of this life, there probably isn’t much room for love. Empty things out daily so that your heart might be prepared to receive a more precious cargo–the love of neighbor over the love of stuff.

We pray. Heavenly Father. The things of this world are a great temptation and it is not at all surprising that their allure can be so intoxicating that, in our hearts, Lord, they might be able to replace the love of others with the love of stuff. Forgive us Father when we accumulate so much stuff, filling up the spaces of our heart, that we forget what You have commanded and You place the greatest importance on: loving our neighbor. Send Your Spirit to help us put our value where it belongs. If our heart is filled with worry and concern over the “things” of this life, there won’t be much room for love. Help us to empty things out daily so that our hearts might be prepared to receive a more precious cargo–the love of neighbor over the love of stuff. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to "This Passing Day!"

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.