No Man Lives to Himself, and No Man Dies to Himself - The Daily Voice

 

The Daily Voice – January 28 No Man Lives to Himself, and No Man Dies to Himself

For no man lives to himself, and no man dies to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:7-8.

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it. 1 Corinthians 12:26a.

No man is an island. We are all connected. Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It is tolling for thee.  John Donne (1624)

Jesus speaking:

That is why the little acts of love and kindness, the little words of love and kindness, that we show to others throughout the day, are so important. My kingdom is made up of little people, showing love and kindness in thousands of different ways throughout the day to their fellow man.

Never be ashamed of the little things. Little things are what the kingdom of God is made up of. It’s the little things that make the kingdom strong. Those little unobserved acts of love and kindness shown to those in need. Those acts are the core of My kingdom.

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2.

I made it My point, when I was on earth, to be attentive to the little things, the seemingly little people. I spent time at a well in the middle of the day to speak and encourage a woman of disrepute. Yet that little talk recorded in the Gospel of John launched My Kingdom into the hearts and minds of that Samaritan town and that talk is still spoken of today.

I took the time to stop and hear the voice of blind Bartimaeus crying out for help. I heard his cry and stopped and listened and then attended to his needs.

I took the time to stop and see Zacheus who had climbed a sycamore tree to get a better view of Me. I went and fellowshipped with this publican at his home where he gladly received My kingdom and repented of his selfish and corrupt past.

I took the time to stop a funeral procession leaving the town of Nain to bury the only son of an old widow. I turned her mourning into dancing by raising him from the dead.

I took the time to wash the disciples’ feet, giving them a vivid example of the importance of the seemingly mundane and humiliating tasks. It’s these very humble tasks that we do for one another, the love in action, that make My kingdom stand. You need to wash each other’s feet. You need to lift up those that are cast down and let the captives free.

I made it the point when I spoke to Mary Madalena at the time of My resurrection that she should go and tell the disciples, “and, Peter.” Why did I mention Peter separately? It was because he was suffering condemnation at having denied Me three times. Peter needed to know that I still loved him. He needed to know he had not lost his place at My table. He needed to know he had not lost his usefulness for the kingdom of God. My way up is down, usually, in fact.

My kingdom is not made up of the strong and mighty. For not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty men, not many noble, are called. For I have chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty; and the base things of the world, and things that are despised, and things which are not, have I chosen, to bring to nought the which are: that no flesh should glory in My presence. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

My kingdom is made up of little people, showing forth little acts of love and kindness, speaking little words of love and kindness. That is the who, and the what, that makes My kingdom strong.

By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples by having or showing love one to another. John 8:34.

It’s the little things that make the kingdom stand. Never despise the day of little things, whether you yourself feel little, or whether you feel what you are doing and accomplishing is little. Have faith in Me Your Saviour that I can take your little and use it to move a mountain, or save a life, or win a soul.

I took the words of a little Jewish servant girl in exile to help bring My love, My mercy and My salvation to a foreign military leader. I used a cup-bearer in the king’s palace to bring forth a liberation to My people and the restructuring of the Temple and Walls of Jerusalem. I took a young falsely accused foreigner to bring salvation from a coming drought to the entire Egyptian empire and save much people alive.

I can use you, too. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you can still be My ambassador. You can be My hands, and My feet. You can be My mouth and My lips. You can be My voice and show My love to every needed soul I bring along your path.

Prayer:

Lord, I’m weak and not eloquent. But I want You to use me. I throw my pride, my selfishness, my laziness at your feet. I forsake them and ask that you refill me with your Holy Spirit. Empower me to be Your disciple. Empower me to dedicate myself to loving You and to loving others and to telling them of the wonderful salvation You have for each and every one of them. Make me a disciple you’ll be proud of. In Your precious name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.