Devotion to Others- Week 3

I am thrilled to introduce you all to Jennifer. Jennifer is our dear Virginia Front Porch Sister. You can read her bio down the right sidebar. She has blessed us this week with a wonderful blog about our perspective when we are considering our devotion to others. After reading her thoughts I will most definitely be looking off my porch with different eyes.

Sweet Blessings for a grace filled week!

Laurie

The Right Perspective

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them……”

Matthew 9:36

After reading the blog one afternoon, I began to mentally access the view from my own front porch. If you were to step out my front door, stand on my small front porch crowded with pots of pink and white inpatients and absorb the view, what would you notice? You might notice the next-door neighbor’s yard that desperately needs to be mowed. Maybe the group of questionable teenagers that is so enamored with the neighbor’s daughter would be gathered at the house across the street. Or the neighbor a few doors down might be washing one of his too many cars.

I suppose I should stop there. You might think I live in the really rough part of town but, in reality, I do not. I live in a very pretty, family friendly neighborhood with beautiful walking and biking trails and across the street from the lake and neighborhood swim club. I feel very blessed to live here, but you probably did not pick up on that from my description above because, as often happens, I allowed myself to focus on the negative. I had the wrong perspective.

In our passage from Matthew, chapter nine, Christ looked out over the crowd. This was the crowd that constantly thronged him. This crowd no doubt included tired, complaining people, sick or diseased folk, not to mention doubters, mockers and naysayers. And they constantly demanded his attention. However, Christ’s view of the crowd evoked only compassion. Of course, He had the right perspective.

I want to have the right outlook when I view my neighborhood. I would rather see the next-door neighbor who works long hours with a difficult commute and has so little free time at home. I would hope I could notice the single mom who finds it difficult to monitor her teenager before she gets home from work but loves her daughter as much as I do mine. What can I do to help keep the right perspective? Christ’s view of the crowd was different because He knew exactly what His purpose was – He was “about His father’s business” (Luke 2:49) and He came “to seek and save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) Remembering His purpose gave Him the right outlook.

Remembering my purpose can also affect my outlook… or perspective. It is not by chance that I live in this neighborhood or that I have certain neighbors. God has placed me here as an opportunity to be a blessing, both physically and spiritually, to these people around me. What can I do to be a help? Lend a hand, invest some time, or make myself available. How have I been a witness for my Savior? Have I shared the gospel or given an invitation to church or Bible study? When I remember that God has allowed me to be here at this time, it can refocus my view from the front porch.