Acts 20:35
I have shown you in
every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember
the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give
than to receive.’”
“I used to be an athlete.”
“I used to be in band.”
“I used to be a good golfer.”
“I used to be in good shape.”
If you listen to those around you, you know
there are a lot of IU2Bs (“I used to be”). For many people, it seems that their best accomplishments
were in their past. So when folks brag
on themselves, excuse me, talk about themselves, it’s easy to jump to an “IU2B”
comment. Nothing wrong with a good
“IU2B” story once in a while, but don’t try to live in the past and let the
present go to waste. Living in the past
means giving up the dreams and plans for the future.
Did you “U2B” a
Sunday school teacher in a church? Do
you teach now or do you live with “IU2B” memories about teaching?
Did you “U2B” one
who prayed for family, friends, co-workers?
Do you pray now or do you rely on those “U2B” prayers?
Did you “U2B” one
who helped people in need? Do you help
today or are you “too old” or “too busy” or “too important” to help and just
remember those “U2B” times helping.
What is your “IU2B”
story? What is your flimsy excuse today
for not doing what you know yourself capable of doing? “Kids get on my nerves.” “People are hypocrites.” “They have enough help.” “I’m no good at doing anything.” “My back hurts.” Why not be honest here? Maybe the truth is “my attitude is bad,” which
is probably closer to the truth.
Why not rejoice in
the day that God has given us. Why not
rejoice that He gives us opportunities to work for His kingdom. Why not put down the TV remote or the
computer mouse and take up the slack on some job that needs to be done? If you just go to church to help hold down
the pews, thanks, but there are enough people holding them down now. The pews don’t need your help, the people
do. Senior saints, marrieds, divorced,
parents, single parents, teens, kids, toddlers, pastors, secretaries, teachers,
just look around and there are people everywhere who could use help. They cross all the age groups and social
strata and their needs are endless. Just
imagine the blessing you could be to these people if you get over yourself and
put aside the “IU2B”s and get on to some new challenge.
I hope your past was full of
achievements and blessings. But now, I
pray that you can be more focused on the present than on the past. Make your goal that your “IU2B” story was that
you used to be an “IU2B” who lived on old memories.
Get in there and
get to work.
Stephen Cram August 17, 2014
Stephen Cram
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through
philosophy and vain deceit, following the tradition of men according to the
rudiments of the world, and not in accordance with Christ.
Visit my pastor’s blog at http://pastorjonrhinehart.blogspot.com/.
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is from the New King
James Version of the Bible.
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