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Be A Better Person
Don*t we all wish that everyone would be a better person? Do we not hope that some bad people would turn their lives around and start doing good? Do we wish our neighbor would treat us better than before? Do we hope that the people we meet each day would show us respect and treat us fairly? If we expect others to be nicer and fairer, should we not make the effort as well? The golden rule is that we should treat others the way we would want them to treat us.
Be a better person now. Do not wait until next year and make a resolution about it. Do not put it off until next week or even tomorrow. Start right now. Look at the person closest to you and show them love. Pick up the phone and call someone who would appreciate a thoughtful consideration. Help someone who needs it, and even if they do not need help, help them anyways. Perhaps they will turn the favor and help someone else. If we would just try, we could turn our society around and make it a pleasant adventure each day to interact with others. Smile. Wish someone a nice day. Be courteous. Encourage others to be good. Tell people about God and His promises. Read 1 John 3:17 and meditate upon it.
1 John 3:18 reads: *Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.* Don*t just talk the talk, but walk the walk. Show your love to others. 1 John 4:20 reads: *If someone says, *I love God*, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.*
One way to turn your life around is to change your focus. When you focus upon God you become a better person. When you focus upon helping others, you become a better person. Part of that focus should be upon spiritual thoughts and matters. Colossians 3:1-2 reads: "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth".
If we could consider others as more important than ourselves, we could be more Christ like. Read Philippians 2:1-4, and Romans 12:10, 16-18 and see how God wants you to treat others. Just look at the judgment criteria in Matthew 25:31-46.
We can be a better person by lifting others up. Most people in the world are hurting in so many ways, and we may not always understand those ways. But if we can lift up their spirits and encourage them, we will have done what God wants us to do. In Romans 15:1-2 we are reminded: "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to his edification."
In so many ways, God is watching out for us and He is our shield and strength as we see described in the Psalms. We also have a duty to our fellow man to help them anyway we can. Sure, many will reject our efforts, and some will not appreciate our kindness. But do not let those soreheads ruin your goal in life to help others. You must overcome these problems and help others. Or at least try to help others.
We are commanded to do good unto all men, and especially those of the faith in Galatians 6:10. We are to pursue peace with all men, (Hebrews 12:14). If we do not, we will not be allowed into heaven. So go ahead, and make someone's day.
By Carey Scott

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