INVESTING. Just recently the Lord has been speaking to me about the investing we do in other people's lives. Over a period of years I have invested time, energy, gifts, money, prayer and scripture in many many people's lives. Some I did not know and probably will never have the opportunity to know, this side of heaven. Others were what the world would call "slight acquaintances." And some others were people who have come to mean a great deal to me personally.

Every single person was worth the investment, particularly as the investment was made under the Lord's instruction. It has occurred to me that this quality of investment in others has been lost from the body of Christ and it is time we all took it seriously. The reason the apostle Paul could speak to Timothy in the manner he did was because of investment. It was also investment that gave Paul the right to speak to many churches. Even higher than that investment is the marvellous investment God Himself has made into all our lives, by giving up His only Son, in death and resurrection. Lastly Jesus sent us His Spirit, the ultimate investment in human life. How blessed are we!

Yet, today, sadly, we have forgotten the principle of investing in someone else's life and well being, - as a human being, and as a fellow believer. Our selfishness, even in the body of Christ, is beginning to know no bounds and I find that fact strongly discouraging. (I am usually a very optimist person despite the circumstances of life.) I learnt the principle of investing in others' lives from saints that have now gone on to be with Jesus, but I was privileged to be born in a time where these wonderful people didn't have to be fashionable to have a voice.

Many people nowadays, have become fashionably of interest because of their giftings or wisdom in God, few, if any Christians, value character. Indeed we seem to be drawn to Charismatic personalities, who write books or produce tapes and are guest speakers. But what of those who occupy seats, year after year, faithfully giving, both to the church and brothers and sisters in Christ? There is someone in our church like this, she is an older woman of another nationality, now happily Australian, and she gives constantly without any thought of return, or even recognition. She gives for the joy of giving. To me, that is as Christ- like as you can get.

I write today to exhort everyone who reads this to ask the Lord for ways to invest in other people's lives. They do not have to be Christian to be worthy of your interest or attention. Indeed, this sort of giving can be a wonderful pre-cursor to Evangelism if we just understood it! Also, if your brother or sister in Christ has a need, what about asking the Holy Spirit for insight as to how you can help them? Sometimes you can bring food, sometimes you can give money, sometimes you should just plain GO and read them the scripture that God has given you for them and then PRAY FOR THEM. People often say to me that my spiritual hearing is quite good, this is one of the ways to improve your hearing! "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you..." Why is it when we read this verse we see it as a WAY to get something we want? You can ask Holy Spirit for ways to bless other people and He will be absolutely DELIGHTED to help you "receive...find...and have door opened for you," when you do this with a desire to be a blessing to someone else.

I don't know about you, but every time I think of the cross I am blessed! The gift of God and the sacrifice of His Son inspires me, plus the gift of the guidance, help, comfort etc. of the Holy Spirit. We are a blessed people - I ask you sincerely with no malice, WHAT MORE DO WE WANT? Be blessed in your coming and going and be a blessing to the world God has put you in. He has left us here to be a blessing, we are the salt, and the light, may the salt be savoury and make food taste good, and the light shine brightly in the darkness of so many lives around us. Amen and Amen.