Slow Down

 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. -Romans 13:7

Honor: showing of usually merited respect.

Respect comes from appreciation. 

Appreciation says, "You are of great worth to me."

Don't assume people know their worth in your life.

Christ went out of His way, being moved by compassion, stopping in his tracks, taking time to notice and listen, and respond to people. He served those closest to Him, washing their feet and setting an example of how to lead with a heart of humility. The Spirit of God takes time to lavish love on me, remind me of what Jesus said, and draw me near to Him. 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are... -1 John 3:1

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. -John 14:26

 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day -John 6:44

So slow down, self. Take time to serve, to lead, to listen, to minister, and to walk in obedience, and to love. Take time to give honor where honor is due and show appreciation.

Lately, I've found myself in a few situations, small moments, where I've encountered a quick decision- will I do this for so and so or not... I find that I've more often defaulted to- "Nah, no big deal." And I've carried on without going "out of my way." But this is so opposite of Jesus, wouldn't you agree? 

Mark 5

When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

I want to learn to listen again and be patient to love. For love is patient. Love turns you around.

Grace