BIBLE READING: Colossians 3:1 - 4 1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
BLOG: Recently, at a convention, I was at I had the opportunity to meet lots of people. The one question that kept coming up, again and again, was, "How are you doing?" I would answer as honestly, but as positively as possible. Some people took it the wrong way. One person even went so far as to make up stuff about my church and me. (Reading between the lines.)
Often people ask, "How are you?" We expect the answer "fine" or something like that. When we get anything else but that, we assume the worst. Don't assume anything.
Ephesians 1:17-21 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Ask God to open your eyes to the needs of others. The prepare to minister to them if you get an honest answer to your question, "How are you?" Don't expect people to lie; ask God to help you be a friend when they are in need.
Truthfully, I'm not someone who needed a shoulder to cry on or a counseling session. I wanted someone to care. So some people, when they asked the question, pressed in a little more and engaged me. Not as some sad person who needed cheering up. But as a friend who cared.
Pray that God will open your eyes to the people around you. But you may need to pray that God will open your eyes to the people who are closest to you. Often, we miss what is right in front of us.
PRAY: Dear Jesus, open my eyes today. AMEN
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