SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

WE NEVER KNOW WHO WE ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER.  EVEN AMONG PEOPLE WE KNOW, WE ARE NEVER SURE OF THEIR MOTIVES.  WE CANNOT CONTROL THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS, BUT OUR RESPONSES IN ANY SITUATION ARE BASED ON OUR DECISIONS.  NO ONE CAN MAKE A DECISION FOR US.  WE ALONE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO. 

I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I TENDED TO HANG OUT WITH AND BE FRIENDLY ONLY TO THOSE WHO WERE IN MY OWN LITTLE "CLIQUE."  I HAD MY OWN CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND WAS PRETTY RUDE AND UNRESPONSIVE TO OTHERS WHO WERENT INCLUDED.  THESE DAYS, AS AN ADULT, I CAN SEE AND IDENTIFY THE SAME BEHAVIOR AMONG THE TEEN AGERS OF TODAY.  IT IS ALSO EASILY SEEN AMONG ADULTS.  WE LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN, BUT A SINGLE TRIP TO WALMART OR TO THE GROCERY STORE WILL CLEARLY POINT OUT THE "CLIQUES" WHICH EXIST AMONG GROWNUPS AS WELL, EVEN AMONG CHURCH GOING PEOPLE.  ESPECIALLY AMONG CHURCH GOING PEOPLE. 

OUR BIBLE COMMANDS US TO EXHIBIT BROTHERLY LOVE.  IT TELLS US THAT WE WILL ALL ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF HEAVEN AND THAT WE WILL COMMUNE WITH THE ANGELS.  MY BIBLE ALSO TELLS ME THAT I SHOULD ENCOURAGE MY BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST AND THAT IN HEAVEN WE WILL ALL BE CONSIDERED EQUAL TO ONE ANOTHER.  IN HEBREWS 13:2, WE ARE TOLD....DO NOT FORGET TO ENTERTAIN STRANGERS, FOR BY SO DOING SOME HAVE UNWITTINGLY ENTERTAINED ANGELS.

IF GOD TELLS US WE MIGHT ENTERTAIN ANGELS UNAWARE, HOW MUST IT MAKE HIM FEEL WHEN WE WALK RIGHT PAST SOMEONE WE KNOW AND DONT EVEN SPEAK?  HOW DOES JESUS VIEW US BEING FRIENDLY AND OFFERING ENCOURAGEMENT ONLY TO THE PEOPLE WE WORK OR ATTEND CHURCH WITH?  WOULD JESUS HAVE SPOKEN ONLY TO HIS DISCIPLES?  DID HE GO TO THE CROSS ONLY FOR A SELECT FEW?  DID JESUS PICK AND CHOOSE WHO HE BLESSED WITH THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION?  DID OUR LORD HAVE HIS OWN LITTLE "CLIQUE?"

I AM SO GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL THAT THE LORD LOVED US ALL.  HE WASNT SELECTIVE AND HE DIDNT PICK AND CHOOSE.  THE LOVE OF GOD IS UNIVERSAL.  HIS PLAN OF SALVATION EXISTS FOR ALL MANKIND.  WE HAVE A GOD WHO LOVES US, WHO ONLY WANTS THE BEST FOR US AND WHO WILL NEVER LET US DOWN.  IT IS MY PRAYER TODAY TO BECOME MORE LIKE HIM.