https://odb.org/2025/10/17/sit-down
Romans 12:9–16 (NIV): 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
With extra time on my hands, my plan for the coming months centred on serving people as much as I could. But while helping a new friend, I tripped and fell and broke my arm in three places. Suddenly, I was the one in need. God’s people cared for me with visits, gift cards, flowers, phone calls, texts, prayers, meals (and even a box of chocolates), and by running errands. I couldn’t believe how kind my family, friends, and fellow church members were! It was as if God were saying, “Sit down. You need help. You’ll see what caring looks like.” Because of them, I know more about serving from the heart and feeling grateful to God for others. (Anne Cetas, ODB 17th Oct 2025)
It is ironic that Anne Cetas, the writer of today’s ODB article, wanted to serve people with time on her side that she tripped and fell and broke her arm in 3 places. Due to her injury, she ended up being served. She wrote, “God’s people cared for me with visits, gift cards, flowers, phone calls, texts, prayers, meals (and even a box of chocolates), and by running errands”. In the process, she learnt what it meant to be cared for and served. Being the recipient changed her perspective and taught her how she could care for others more empathetically.
The lesson this morning is that whenever we go through tough situations or disappointments or even failed missions or dreams, know that our personal experience builds us up to be better equipped to serve others. If we came from a family who experienced a great tragedy, like the 16 year old student stabbed 200 times by a 14 year old fellow student, the hearts broken and tears shed will make us stronger to one day help others go through their own tragedies. I’m sure we have come across news reports of a family involved in a bad car accident where everyone except a young child was killed. What a dark future one will have if your parents and siblings were all killed, leaving you alone to grow up and face the world. Bleak as it may appear to be, the Lord is able to turn your tragedy into something of substance for you to be a pillar of strength for others.
This morning, as we approach the coming long weekend when our Hindu friends celebrate Diwali, be reminded that God in His almighty power and infinite grace will turn our past tragedies into opportunities for service and blessings! For those of us in my local church attending the upcoming family camp, be prepared for God to touch us and lead us into a spiritual breakthrough for our lives!
Have a good long weekend, everyone!
Ronnie's Thoughts 