Refresh

I decided I would read a Proverb today. You know the old saying, “a Proverb a day keeps the devil away.” Sounds good to me! So I picked the obvious, the 11th proverb. It is full of good instruction. It starts off by talking about dishonest people and how the Lord hates lying and dishonesty. Then it moves to the fact of how the Lord rescues the Godly. A little further in the Proverb the writer states, the Lord "delights in those who have integrity." However, the verse that caught my heart, my attention is verse 25, "the generous prosper and are satisfied, those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed" (NLT)

"Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed." I believe the word I am looking for is reciprocity. Our relationship or should I say our growth in spiritual matters has much to do with reciprocity. It is reciprocal in nature. The New Testament tells us that if we will "draw nigh to God, then He will draw nigh to us." Yes, God initiated our salvation. He sought us out and saved us. However, It seems now, at least at times, that we become the pursuer and God responds to us in direct proportion as we are seeking Him out, and His ways. Yes, there are times, even now, in our walk with Him that we know He specifically pursues us but if we want to go deeper and know Him even greater then we must become the pursuer, the "God Chaser."

Jesus said, "when you have done it to the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me." When we "refresh others" are we not in essence doing it unto the Lord, and thereby being pursers of the Father? And the benefit is, in the process we are "refreshed." Don't you like the word "refreshed." It sounds clean, wholesome, restful, full of energy and life. Lord, help me find someone today to "refresh."

This is today,

Pastor Gary