Aug. 21 Devotion: Yellow Pages

Yellow Pages

1 Peter 4:9-10

Use hospitality one to another without grudging. [10] As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

How many of you remember the Yellow Pages growing up? I remember using them a little, as well as just going through them sometimes to see what was in there. However, the reason I don’t remember using them a lot was that my parents or grandparents typically knew anything that I might need out of them. Can we be the same Yellow Pages for others in our lives?

One of the things I tell the folks in the jail all the time is that if they aren’t from around here, I encourage them to call the church. Our pastor knows pastors all across the country and can point them in the right direction. Sometimes the best thing we can do is point people in the direction they need to go. They might just need help, and we may not be the best person to provide that help.

Being a help to others doesn’t always mean that we personally have the answer or can meet every need. Sometimes it means knowing someone who can. Sometimes it means making a phone call, giving a name, offering some encouragement, or simply helping someone take the next step.

We should be people others can come to—not because we have all the answers, but because we are willing to help them find the answers. And ultimately, our greatest responsibility is to point people beyond ourselves and toward the Lord. We may not be able to fix their problem, but we can always point them to the One who can.

God bless,

Bro. Josh Richardson