A Drink of Water

Good Morning,

Mark 9:41 (NKJV)
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

My wife is in the habit of fixing a couple of two liter bottles of clean water and setting it out each week for the men who come to collect our trash. She goes to great lengths to be sure that this water is from the reverse osmosis thing we've got so that they will have the cleanest and best tasting water that she can give them. She expects nothing in return. Now, before you lump me in with her in doing this good deed I must tell you that I am not involved in this activity at all and I've wondered about whether or not the trouble she goes through is worth it. Yes, I'm the skeptic of the house! But then, some months ago, I was sitting at the kitchen table drinking my morning coffee and I heard the big old trash truck in our neighborhood. From our kitchen we can look out the windows and see the area where we set out our trash cans. As the sounds of the truck got nearer I glanced up from my newspaper and saw the truck stop by our driveway. Then, as I watched, I noticed that the first thing the young man who got down from the truck did was to look down where my wife had set their water bottles. Before he did anything else, he reached down, picked up those bottles and with a smile he set them into the cab of the truck.

Now, I hadn't ever given a whole lot of thought as to whether or not these guys really cared much about their simple bottles of water, but that day I saw the true fruits of her labors. Yes, indeed, they were, I believe, more than just a little bit pleased with the small gift of clean water that they had come to expect. God, you see, wanted me to see that little play which transpired before my eyes so He could give me a lesson...well, maybe several lessons! He kind of works that way, don't you think? God wanted to show me that even the in the tiniest of ways we serve Him that there can be great reward. He also wanted to soften my heart a bit so I would more fully understand a caring and loving heart who just wanted to make life a bit easier on her fellow human beings.

So, the point of this, I believe, is for us to more fully understand this simple verse of Scripture. The "cup of water" is a metaphor to helping others...even if only in the smallest of ways. There is also the added lesson that even the little things we do for others are seen and then rewarded by God. Another lesson that I learned that day was that I am, indeed, to be more giving, loving, and caring about ALL people.

Please pray for me that I would be all of that...more giving...more loving...more caring of everyone. And I shall pray the same for you.
Love, peace, and blessings,

David