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The 'Cause'
When I was a little girl, my friends and I used to walk - and I do mean
walk - the neighborhood collecting for the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon
put on by none other than Jerry Lewis himself. It seems to me that it
was during the Fall and the big night was on the very same night as the
Miss America Contest. Anyway, we would walk and walk and walk and walk
all for the chance to get to go Downtown to pour collected donations
into that big fish tank.... and to be on TV, nonetheless, while we were
doing it! Although I do not think at that tender young age we realized
the importance of our charity work, it now occurs to me just how
important our small parts played and what an honor and privilege it was
to have been a part of it. Yesterday - this past Thursday - I had the
honor and privilege to once again be a part of the Muscular Dystrophy
Jerry Lewis Telethon as I was “locked up” for this worthy cause. I
am, however, now out on “bail” as I had many kind contributors who
made donations to get this jailbird out of jail.
You know, there are many worthy “causes” which need our attention,
our time, and yes, our money. One, however, stands out the very most to
me and that is the “Cause” for Christ ... our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, and it is that Cause which I am most passionate about because it
is that Cause which tells me to give my attention, my time, and yes, my
money, to the many other causes for His sake. Love one another, we are
told over and over again in the Scriptures, and we are to do that in
many, many ways .....
Acrostic:
C - CHARITY ... (n.) love for mankind; generosity to the needy ....
Luke 12:33-34 "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make
yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in
heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also."
A - ALMS ... (n.) charitable gift or money ....
Matthew 6:1-4 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to
be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is
in heaven. When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before
you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that
they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward
in full. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing that your alms may be in secret; and your
Father who sees in secret will repay you."
U - USEFUL ... (adj.) employed or engaged for a purpose; of value; of
service ....
Romans 12:9-21 "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
S - SERVE ... (v.) act in the service of; be of use to ....
Galatians 5:13-14 "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do
not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through
love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in
the statement, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "
E - EACH ... (adj.) every one individually ....
Colossians 3:12-17 "And so, as those who have been chosen of God,
holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each
other, whoever has a complaint against any one; just as the Lord forgave
you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which
is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching
and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
CAUSE!
Because it is a worthy cause!
The thing is though ...
when we
give, we are given back to
.... and even more so ....
Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed
down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For
whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in
return."
But there is an even more important reason for giving of ourselves to
others. When we "give" to others, we are told, we are giving unto Him
.....
Matthew 25:34-40 "Then the King will say to those on His right,
'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you
gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a
stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick,
and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' Then the
righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry,
and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see You a
stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we
see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer
and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to
one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to
Me."
WOW!
Amen and Amen!!
Praying many more blessings your way!
Kelli
