Amazing
Have you ever met a younger person who you like immediately and, as your friendship develops, your appreciation for them turns into admiration? And, as importantly, this person isn’t an actor or a politician or even a pastor. I added this qualification because I see people all the time that are famous or in a position of authority that I wonder if, when you get to know them, they are like the persona that they portray in public.
This person I am referring to is almost a third my age and could almost be my grandson. When I was this person’s age, I had just graduated from college and was about ready to start my job as a high school teacher and looking forward to marrying my love. At that point in my life, everything was potential - my faith, children, my career, and all the material stuff you desire at that age. My biggest fear was that I’d take my car in to be fixed and the repair bill would be significant (which at that time was probably anything more than $100).
I’m afraid I have to be vague as to why I admire this person so much. I don’t want to embarrass them, in case they read this devotion. However, in the short time we have known each other, this person has mentioned health issues, both for themself and for family members, being in a multiyear relationship with their significant other, recent homeownership, and other significant responsibilities. Every time I see this person, they always greet me with a smile and ask how I’m doing.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” - Matthew 12:33-35 ESV
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” - Proverbs 12:25-26
“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” - 3 John 1:2-4
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.” - Proverbs 25:11-13
I apologize for not sharing more details so that you can get some appreciation for why I say that I admire this person. But maybe that makes this more applicable. We have lots of friends in life through work, church and other places that we don’t have much interaction with outside that situation. Maybe, just maybe, if we take the time to really get to know one other, we would find many things to admire about the other.
In writing these devotions, a lot of the time something will happen to me and I feel compelled to write about it. Other times, I am reminded of something and feel compelled to recollect about it. A few times, an idea forms and percolates in my head for a few days. This topic has been percolating in my head for a few weeks now. I hope that is how God influences me to put down a message according to his plan.
