4-18-21 Seek after the Meek
Quote: “Some of the most generous people have very little money. Some of the wisest people have no education. Some of the kindest people were hurt the most.”
I saw this quote and it led my mind on a rabbit trail that would not quit. I have spent days thinking about all the people in my life that fit these categories.
I have been on many trips to third world countries and I have never in my life seen anything like it! The poorest people are so unbelievably kind. One time I was on a mission trip to Guatemala and we were delivering donated medical supplies to the midwife of the village. When she saw all the things we had brought, she immediately ran into her small kitchen and started giving each of us a vegetable from her garden. With tears in her eyes she was trying so hard to repay what we had done for her and her village.
My grandpa is one of the wisest people I know. He preaches messages at his church, he leads Bible studies at the nursing home and at his park in Florida, and he has bestowed more wisdom on my family than I can even fathom. Yet he never went to college, never received any formal training in religion, but is a lover of Jesus.
I have some friends in my life that have been through the wringer. They’ve experienced abuse, threats, divorce, infidelity, job loss, health issues, miscarriages, and deaths. Yet they are the first ones to show up on my door step to cry with me, pray with me, and give of their time, talent, and treasures. They are some of the kindest people I have ever met.
God continually shows me that the he loves to show up through the underdog. The Bible is full of underdogs. And I love that these people are part of my legacy. My favorite “shocker” is Paul. His real name was Saul first and he was literally killing Christians. Acts 9:1-16 tells this crazy story. Verse 1 says, “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” Then God says to a man named Ananias, “Go to the house of Judas…and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul…” (verse 11). Ananias says in verse 13, “Lord…I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.” God says this is the perfect man for the job – trust me! Verse 15 says, “But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.'”
What?! Yep – the Christian killer was first in line to be the next powerful missionary and writer of around 13 books of our Bible.
Bottom line: God can take anyone and do the impossible. And I think the ones who are considered the “least” by society’s standards can end up doing the “most” for the world. They are the most humble and meek people on this planet. The Bible says in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
I am so thankful for the people God puts in our life to remind us that the best people are not the ones with all the degrees or fancy training. They’re not the ones with all the money. And they’re definitely not the ones that seem to have it all together.
Think about some of these people God has put in your life. Reach out to them. Thank them for all they are doing, even though the odds were stacked against them to be anything but happy, successful people. Encourage them. Remind them how much you love them. And how you see how they choose to be kind, wise, and generous…no matter what life has dealt them.
