Something Bigger

“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.”

John 15:16 (The Message)

Have you ever participated in a blood drive? What about as a volunteer for a school carnival, Vacation Bible School, or your child’s field trip? During the holidays, have you ever picked a child’s name off a tree, helped serve food at a soup kitchen, or put your spare change in a Salvation Army red kettle?

Did you stop to think that by doing any of those things you’ve been part of something bigger than yourself? I was having a conversation with someone special the other day and we were talking about how peaceful it is to know that things occur in our lives not just because of us, but because there is a bigger picture, something more important than just what happens to us. And, sometimes we’re given the privilege to actively participate in blessing others’ lives through our actions.

The overlying message of the Bible is grace…and love. We don’t have to earn our salvation. In fact, we can’t. There is no work of any kind we can accomplish to earn us a spot in Heaven. And, God loves each and every one of us so much that His main goal is to heap love on us and point us in the direction to make that choice, to receive the free gift, to accept His love and choose Him.

What would you say if I told you once you accepted that gift for yourself, it wasn’t over? What would you say if I told you there was more? What would you say if I told you it was your turn to be a blessing to someone else? To point them in the direction of God’s love and show them they also don’t have to do anything to get to Heaven except choose? How would it make you feel to be part of the bigger plan, the bigger picture, a small part of pointing someone you love, or a complete stranger, or a coworker in the right direction to make the choice for herself?

Instead of measuring every circumstance that occurs in your life against the ruler of how it affects you, I want to challenge you to think differently, if only for a day. What if instead of saying, “What’s in it for me?” you instead asked, “How can I participate in being part of something bigger for someone else?”

I’m excited to think about all the people I will someday meet in Heaven…some who have been a part of my “bigger picture” and hopefully some that I’ve been a part of their “bigger picture.” To think we’ll have eternity to get to know each other, build a friendship, and just enjoy knowing God gets all the glory for any of us being there to begin with.

© Cheri Swalwell 2014