In the word and in service

Mike was convicted one Sunday at church about the amount of time that he had been spending with God. Mike had heard for years the importance of spending time with God, reading about his word, serving him, getting to know him.

Mike committed to spend 15 minutes a day in the word over the next 3 months to get to know God better. Mike decided to find a quiet place each day at lunch to read the bible. Mike jumped in with both feet! He started praying prior to his reading time each day, asking God to give him insights about what to read each day. Mike would pray and say things like "God, what should i read about today?" Day after day, Mike faithfully meet his committment. After a couple months, Mike had read in all 4 Gospels, and in books of the Old Testament. God had faithfully given Mike direction in his reading.

One day Mike started his praying about what to read, but did not hear God speaking about what to read that day. Mike decided to get up from his normal spot and go outside and walk a bit, as he walked he continued to pray and listen to what God was going to say. Before Mike knew it, he had been walking for a while and needed to get back to work. As Mike was walking back, he spotted an old man sitting on a bench. Mike approached the old man and started talking with him. The mans name was Charles. Charles had recently moved into a nearby retirement home. Charles had lost his wife and was feeling very lonely and lost. Mike sat and listened to Charles for awhile. Eventually, Mike said to Charles that he needed to get back to work and that he had enjoyed their conversation and looked forward to talking again. Before Mike left, he and Charles prayed together. It was then that God spoke to Mike, as he walked back to his office. The book of James, look in chapter 1. Be a doer of the word, not just a hearer. Look after the old and widowed...

There is a time for you to sit with me and talk says the Lord, there is also a time that you need to get up and let me talk to others through you. A time to go and serve others. It is in your love for others where i can be. When you watch over the elderly and take care of others, giving them your time - that is when i am pleased. It is in service that i am glorified.