The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "SPIRITUAL GUIDES " for Tuesday, 11 October 2016 with Scripture: Matthew 7:12-14

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "SPIRITUAL GUIDES" for Tuesday, 11 October 2016 with Scripture: Matthew 7:12 “Always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that sums up the teaching of the Torah and the Prophets.
13 “Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; 14 but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
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The psalmist wrote, “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”[Psalm 73:24 (NIV)]
My wife, Megan, arranged a concert at our home to raise funds for a charity that works to eliminate human trafficking. Since we live at the end of a cul-de-sac, we were concerned about parking for the visitors. Fortunately, we have a large park next door, but the only access is through a narrow gap between two knee-high wooden poles. Our solution was for my son and me to stand on either side of the poles to guide the drivers in and out.
This made me think about the narrow path that leads to eternal life. Then, I thanked God for the many people who have acted as spiritual guides to keep me on the path of faith. I also thought about how important it is for me to act as a guide for those whose lives I touch. I pray constantly that I will stay on that path that leads to eternal life and that I may lead others to God as well.
Read more from the author, here.
"Acts of Kindness Matter"

My lovely wife recently found some movies on special and purchased them for the family. One of them was a color re-mastered version of It’s a Wonderful Life from 1946. My children were quite young when we first watched this movie, so I was surprised when my youngest son (21 years old) and only daughter (17 years old) were enthusiastic about watching it again. The main character in the movie sacrifices his youthful dreams, initially to serve his community and help his brother and later to provide and care for his family. After a financial crisis he comes to the point where he thinks everyone would have been better off had he never existed. His plans to end his life are interrupted by an angel who reveals what it would have been like had he never been born and only then does he realize how much of a blessing he has been to others. The movie ends happily when those he blessed rally to remedy the financial crisis.
This reminded me of the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25:31-46. It has always genuinely puzzled me that the righteous in this parable have no inkling of the significance of their kind acts. Perhaps this behavior was so ingrained in their character that they no longer noticed it nor placed any special value on it. A servant attitude had become their lifestyle.
In eternal terms, the most important thing in life is not the power or influence we wield, the wealth we accumulate, the fame or accomplishments we accrue, or the status we achieve, but rather it is the seemingly insignificant kind acts that truly count. Even if these are not appreciated or recognized here on earth we can be sure that they do not go unnoticed by our heavenly father, who sees all things.
I think the challenge is to make acts of kindness a habitual response to the circumstances that surround us every day so that we may be genuinely surprised when Jesus responds, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."[Bill Gosling]

See an image of the author and his wife, here.Link2Life for October 11, 2016

Upper Room author Bill Gosling and his wife, Megan

The Author: Bill Gosling (Western Australia, Australia)
Thought for the Day: For whom can I act as a spiritual guide today?
Prayer: Thank you, God, for our spiritual guides. Please help us to act as faithful mentors to others. Amen.
Prayer focus: MY SPIRITUAL GUIDES-------