Thoughts from Bob Goff

Dear Friends,

Today's "thought" is a bit more practical than the last two I sent out dealing with Peter and Paul's theological preferences. But practical doesn't always mean easy - especially when carrying out the advice given means we must fight our natural inclinations! This particular thought comes from Bob Goff. It's found in his book, "Live in Grace, Walk in Love." It speaks of doing our acts of love, and keeping our acts of love - secret. Enjoy!

"Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:
'See that you don't tell this to anyone."
Mark 1:43-44

"'Go and tell no one.' That's what Jesus said to people after He restored their health or even their lives with the wave of His hand. People came to Him covered with leprosy, cast out of their communities while they waited to die, and Jesus cleared it up with a touch. But before they skipped back to their families and friends, before they appeared healthy and ready to go back into the mix, He told them one last thing: 'Don't tell anyone.' This was his plan for self-promotion. For His entire life Jesus did His best work in secret.

I have to admit there have been times when I've made someone's day in a much smaller way, and I wanted a megaphone to tell everyone about it. I wanted the New York Times to put its best reporter on the story and for it to land on the Sunday morning cover page. I'm sure after all that work of drawing attention to myself, I'd wave my hand and say something like, 'Ah, it was nothing,' just to cover the huge tracks I'd left leading to me.

These days, Jesus has helped me get out of the way. He's helped me realize that big love doesn't need to attract attention. You know, there's something transformational about showing love to someone without all the glitter and spotlights. The people who understand this make joy their reward. Give it a shot today. Drop a check in the mail for someone who's running low on cash, or slip a lollipop to the kid who's screaming on the airplane. Maybe ask the parent first -- since they'll have to deal with the sugar rush. Wherever you are and whoever you're with, make more room for love by getting your ego out of the way. Leave the applause for the circus. Consider, 'What secret act of love can you do for someone today?'"
 

I'll simply reiterate the challenge he gives and ask that maybe today (or by the end of this week) you could do a secret act of love for someone. Think of what they might need. Think of something that would make their day. Think of how you could do it secretly - so that only the person receiving your expression of love would know about it. Better yet, do it in such a way that neither the person(s) who is the recipient of your act of love, nor anyone else, would know it was you who did it. As Goff says, "make joy [your] reward" by simply knowing you brought joy to someone else's heart.

After all, the point is to give love, not to get "credit" for it. Just make someone's day. Bring a smile (or a joyful tear) to their face. Let them know someone cares. Maybe then they'll simply pause to give thanks to God for the unexpected expression of grace - like the time I got up to pay my bill at my favorite restaurant, only to discover (to my great surprise) that someone had already paid the full price for me, including the tip. It even sounds kind of Jesus-like!

In His Great Grace, Pastor Jeff