40 ACTS Day 8 OTT Alright, time to step it up a notch - were headed into the deep-end of generous living. Today’s challenge is to get right out of your comfort zone and do something a little bit wild for someone else. For some, this might be a really extravagant treat or gift for someone who needs cheering up. You might offer free hugs in the high street or buy flowers and give them out to everyone you meet. The point of this one is uncomfortable, over the top generosity. Go for it! Bible verse of the day: Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Romans 12: 10 Thought of the Day from Steven Legg You won’t hear me admitting it often but I’m an embarrassing man; to be more specific, an embarrassing Dad. I frequently humiliate my children by giving myself a new name in Starbucks to be written on my coffee cup. I get disproportionate delight when they call out “Coffee for Chip!” and I can call back “That’s me!” When travelling through a MacDonald’s Drive Thru, I try to engage the faceless voice in a meaningful conversation and call them ‘Buddy’. My kids die a little. But, whilst my kids shrink down in their seats and hide their faces, I like to talk to the people who are serving me. I always read their name badges and call them by name. I want them to know I see them as a person, not just an extension of the franchise. Recently though, I’ve taken it a step further; I’ve totally upped my game. Having discovered that Sybil, the lady from Iceland (the frozen food superstore not the country), preferred the iced buns from the bakery down the street, I went out and bought her a wrapped box of them. When I handed them over and said, “Thank you.” she welled up; no one had ever done anything like that before. You see, as Christians, we know we should be polite, we know we should do ‘what Jesus would do’ but, often, we stop short at just not doing what he definitely wouldn’t. Jesus was extravagant. He didn’t just feed five thousand he had food left over; he went the extra mile. It says in Romans 12:10 that we should honour others above ourselves. That means we should go out of our way for them. So, buy the stranger a cake, pay back more than you borrowed, give a gift to say thank you when you return what you borrowed. In short, give more than you get. We’re called to live our lives extravagantly – just like Jesus. Video of the day: https://youtube/watch?v=Q4enUE8qt_Q#t=18
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 16:57:07 +0000
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