Read: 1 Peter 4:1-11

In the gospels Jesus often teaches about putting others before ourselves and caring for those in need.  He often would use parables to get this point across but ultimately he gave up his life for others who were in need of their sins being forgiven.  Yes, that would be us.  All of us.  As believers and followers of Jesus we should always be looking for ways to help others in need.

In a recent Our Daily Bread devotional Xochitl Dixon shares a story from a small farming community.  “Several years after the bank sold the farm David’s family had owned for decades, he learned the property would be available for sale.  After much sacrifice and saving, David arrived at the auction and joined a crowd of nearly 200 local farmers.  Would David’s meager bid be enough?  He placed the first bid, taking deep breaths as the auctioneer called for higher bids.  The crowd remained silent until they heard the slam of the gavel.  The fellow farmers placed the needs of David and his family above their own financial advancement.”

This story is just one example of many ways we can help an individual, family, student, co-worker, new neighbor, refugee, friend, church friend, or other who might be in need.  The key ingredient is that we look beyond ourselves and our own needs to see the needs of another.  This is what Peter encourages in verse 10 when he says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 

Read: Jeremiah 22:1-5, Micah 6:6-8

Most of us want to make a difference in the world and do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly as the prophet Micah encourages us to do in the Old Testament.  The prophet Jeremiah encourages many of those same things in his book.  The life of Jesus in the New Testament builds on those things and shows us what it looks like in action.  But in a world with so much anger and violence, so many needs, and so much injustice we sometimes ask ourselves, “What can I do that will really make a difference?”  The world seems so big and our contributions sometimes feel so insignificant.  What am I to do with that?

As I was asking myself these questions recently I heard a song from the Irish band U2 and one line really jumped out at me.  It was a song from one of their first albums and the song was titled “Gloria.”  The line said, “I can’t change the world, but I can change the world in me.”  In other words, you maybe can’t solve all of the poverty, racism, violence, and hatred in the world, you maybe can’t share the love and grace of Jesus with the whole world, but you can do all of those things in yourself and in your corner of the world.  That is what God is calling us to.

Your corner of the world starts with your own life, faith, outlook, actions, and attitude.  It then extends to your home, your neighborhood, your friends, and your workplace or school.  If we can make a difference in those areas God will use that example and multiply it to others.  It has to start somewhere so let it start with us.  One last reminder, we can’t do these things in our own strength.  We need Jesus to help us do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.  If we look to Jesus he will help us make a difference in our corner of the world. 

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Do you know how many different flavors of sauce Chick-fil-A has?  They have eight according to their website but that doesn’t even include ketchup and mustard.  Can you name all eight?  My personal favorites are the original Chick-fil-A sauce and the Polynesian sauce. Why do they need so many options?  Because people are different and have different preferences for their sauce.  We know that people are different and have different personalities and giftings but Paul says that God planned it that way.  He says that we each are a part of the body of Christ and each one of us is needed (1 Cor. 12:27).

Author and blogger Amy Weatherly recently wrote about this when encouraging people to be who God has called them to be and not worry about what others might expect us to be.  She wrote, “You can’t be everyone’s Chick-fil-A sauce. That’s not your job. Your job is to run the race that’s been set out before you. Run it hard. Run it long. Run it well. Run it in your very own style.  Run with arms wide open toward faith and hope. Give grace. Chase after gratitude. Bring joy with you everywhere you go. Do what God’s asked you to do and keep your eyes on him.”

Read: Haggai 1-2

When was the last time you read the two chapters of Haggai?  Never?  It is not an often turned to book in our Bibles but I would encourage you to read it’s two chapters (38 verses total) this week.  Haggai was a prophet who called the people to turn to God at a time in which they were consumed with themselves. He says, “Give careful thought to your ways…”  Perhaps this is a prophetic voice that we need to hear again today.

When the Isrealies returned to Jerusalem from exile they started to rebuild the temple but failed to finish the work once they got consumed by their own lives and personal desires.  In verse 4 of chapter 1 he says, “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”  Haggai’s encouragement goes beyond just a physical building plan though.  He asked them to give careful thought to all of their priorities in life.