I Know Whom I Have Believed...


Monday, May 17, 2010

Stoop….and Lift!

The following is a great devotional from Word for You Today...

Lift Them!

“Jesus stooped down.”

John 8:6 NKJV

Remember the woman “caught in the act” of adultery?

The Pharisees stooped to pick up stones.

Jesus stooped to pick her up.

Which group are you in?

You can’t be choosy about who you help. Some of us think we should only help those who believe like we do. No.

“Uphold the weak, be patient with all”

1 Thessalonians 5:14 NKJV

There’s a story about a guy who fell into a pit and couldn’t get out:

pit

A subjective person came along and said, “I feel for you down there.

An objective person came along and said, “Well, it’s logical somebody would fall down there.

A Pharisee said, “Only bad people fall into pits.”

A judgmental Christian said, “You deserve your pit.”

A realist said, “Now that’s a pit.”

A geologist told him to appreciate the rock strata in the pit.

A tax agent asked him if he was paying taxes on the pit.

A self-pitying person said, “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.”

An optimist said, “Things could be worse.”

A pessimist said, “Things will get worse.

Jesus, seeing the guy in the pit, reached down, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.

right hand copy

Have you noticed how Jesus ends his famous parable about the Good Samaritan?

“Go and do likewise”

Luke 10:37 NKJV

You have power to affect the lives of those around you. Your encouragement can be the difference-maker in someone’s day, week, or even life, sending them in a whole new direction. But it’s difficult to encourage people if you don’t know what they need. So become a student of people. Learn what makes them tick, know what lifts them.

posted by Erie Christian Fellowship




16 thoughts:

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I love all the different views of the pit. It's so true though. We so often talk, discuss, give our opinion, but we aren't always so ready to give our help.
Thanks for these encouraging words

Denise said...

Awesome devotion sis, love you.

Just Be Real said...

Thank you Karen. Needed to read these words of encouragement knowing God lifts me up. Blessings.

Anonymous said...

Karen,
This was great! Thanks for sharing. Praying God will help me do this....to see people through His eyes of grace.

Amazing humility. The God of the universe stooped. This concept still amazes me.

Blessings,
Tammy

Jennifer @ JenniferDukesLee.com said...

As a former pit-dweller, I feel those words. This really resonates.

luvmy4sons said...

Wonderful exhortation. So easy to NOT take time to lift up! Oh to have the heart of Jesus!

Sandy said...

What a wonderful word today!
Haven't we all been there
in the pit? But Jesus lifts
us out! Hallelujah! We do
have the awesome power of His
life living within us to offer
help and encouragement to others.
I'm afraid we just don't use it
enough though.
Blessings,
Sandy

Michele said...

very good devotional, so many different ways to look at it, thanks for sharing.

Michele

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

Wonderful take on this parable ! Wonderful Post ! I pray to have his heart . I am so glad he stooped down to me !
Blessings,
~Myrna

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Love the stooping to lift us up
kim

Michelle said...

I have never heard this one.
It is so true.
Thanks for sharing!

Lavonda Pflug said...

I love the pit part. :) Kept trying to figure out which group I fall into most often.
May we all be more like Jesus and help someone out of their pit.

Joan Davis (Jo) said...

Thanks for sharing that encouraging devotional. Yes, let's be the ones to offer the helping hand and lift others out of the pit. =)

Laurie said...

Oh, this is good...convicting and encouraging at the same time. I will never stop learning from God's word, even when I have read a verse several times, He often brings it to me in a fresh way. Thank you for sharing this, Karen!
Blessings to you!
Laurie

Beth Zimmerman said...

I think there have been different times in my life when I would have seen the pit, and the person in it, in most if not all of those ways! Such a blessing of mercy and grace that Jesus does not act as we do! And that he gives us the power and desire to be like Him!

Thanks for sharing!

Michelle said...

I just came across your blog and I love both your blog and this post!

God has lifted me out of many "pits!" Some I've created for myself and others that He has used to refine me!

Have a blessed week!

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