Daily Inspiration
Unfamiliar Person
“Clearly you are an epistle of Christ...written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”
~II Corinthians 3:3
As I watch a group of wild turkeys in the preserve there is often one that seems to be outside the boundary of the group. If that one walks too far into the group, it is chased back to the outer edge. It is allowed to be with the group, however it must stay outside the enforced boundary of the others.
As I pondered the actions of the turkeys, I thought that often people's actions are similar to the wild turkeys. When a new person arrives at work they are either directly, or indirectly, shown the enforced boundary of the inside group. Or, time and time again, if you move into a new community, it is somewhat difficult to become recognized by the others who have lived in the community for a long period of time. They frequently have their own set of enforced boundaries that does not include the newcomer.
The above examples commonly propose a challenge to God's people when a new person appears in their life. How are they to deal with the similar situations?
Jesus handled the same situations. He presented a new command for God's people in John 13:34. He stated: “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”. Wow, is that a tough “command”, is it not?
God is love, and it is authentic, and sincere. In “Our Daily Bread Ministries”, Dave Branon stated: “The key to our Savior's interaction with others after He began His public ministry of preaching and healing and caring for the troubled was His humility.“. Because of who He is, He loved each person, despite of who they were.
Romans 5:5 states: “For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.”. When our hearts are filled with God's love we are enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit to love others, and then to become His missionary's.
Millie Stamm wrote a story: “Through the work of a missionary, a young man came to know Jesus Christ.”. One day he was asked about his conversion, he said: “One day Jesus Christ became real to me and I invited HIM into my life as personal Savior.” Then he said, “Do you know where I first met Him? In the life of the missionary.”.
When an unknown person appears in your life, God's people should not be like the example of the wild turkeys and keep chasing that person to the outside of the boundaries of your inner circle. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, and God's love within you, accept that new person, and take the time learn to know who they are. Become God's missionary!
Lord God, thank You for not having enforced boundaries. Help us to remember to show kindness to a new person that comes into our life. Amen.
~ Ann Brock Ludington
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