Wednesday, December 27, 2006

It's A Wonderful Life!

I watched that movie the other night, and as I sat down to my Bible this morning, I found a passage that exemplifies the best part of that movie. This morning I read Acts chapter 9. Here are the verses I'm thinking on today.

36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas[a]), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"

39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Tabitha was a servant. She was generous and talented and she was constantly sharing what she had with the less fortunate. In return, the people she helped turned out in droves to mourn her passing and do what they could for her. The example here is what can happen when we spend time helping others, they in turn, will help us out when we need it most. These verses continue as Peter arrives at Tabitha's death bed, and the prayers of all those in attendance are heard, and Peter raises Tabitha from the dead. If that isn't a benefit of serving others, I don't know what is! Serving others is such an important part of faith and believing in God, and sometimes, we forget that. There are so many times when we should be placing others needs before our own. But do we?

In the example of the movie, It's A Wonderful Life, George Bailey was always kind and generous- even when he couldn't afford to do so. And even thought the crux of the movie is what the world would have been like if he hadn't been born, it's also important to see the message of sharing with others. because what happened when George spent his life sharing all he had with those around him? They turned around and helped him when he needed it most. What goes around comes around.

How can you be a servant to someone? That is something to think on today and the days to come I think.

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