Although it is still several years off, thoughts of retirement are not as far fetched as they once were. I have this notion that upon retirement I will become this Biblical scholar. Spending hours in study of the holy writ. But yesterday leads me to believe easier said than done. No school yesterday. All my time was mine to do with as I pleased. Did I spend extra time in heavenly pursuits? Were my knees raw from hours in prayer? Nah. I did have my usual quiet time and blog entry, which for me is a victory because many times days off quiet time gets relegated to the I-will-get-to-it-later column that seldom gets revisited. But none of the "extra" time I had yesterday was devoted to heavenly pursuits. (Not that this is relevant to today's Blackaby reading, but it was an interesting observation.)
Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Wow! I cannot think of too many more appropriate verses to serve as start of the week reminder for me. Encouragement does not come easy to me. I don't need the accolades of others, therefore I tend not to be an encourager. I think this comes from a low sense of self-worth. On some level it seems as if I am afraid that if I build others up, that in some way decreases me.
In today's reading, Paul commands us to "edify another". Although he was writing to the Christian church about how to treat other believers, it applies equally to all people.
Paul urges us to "pursue" the edification of others. Blackaby points out that the word "pursue" means to "passionately focus one's undistracted effort toward a goal." The edification of others is not a casual matter. It is not the throw away compliment of "you look nice" tossed over my shoulder to Kristi as I head out the door for work. How much more powerful would the compliment of "your students are lucky to have such a caring teacher in their classroom" mean?
Compliments and edifying remarks to others do not cost me a thing. No state, local or Federal taxes. No surcharges or shipping and handling. But the difference it can make in the lives of others is incalculable.
Heavenly Father, please help my words and actions today be uplifting to those around me.
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