None of us choose the name our parents give us, but we grow into it somehow. I can’t imagine my name being something other than what it is.
Years ago, I found a bookmark with my name on it, one of those that told all about its meaning.
It’s not surprising to me that my name means helper.
I love to help, always have. I don’t think my parents thought past giving me a name they liked, but I do think it is interesting how our names and their meanings somehow find their way to who we become.
Sometimes it’s hard to be a helper.
Maybe you find yourself becoming tired after a while.
Or maybe you start wanting something in return.
Both are normal human reactions and nothing to be ashamed of, but we need to remember the example we are given in God’s Word.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 ESV
I don’t think the reason we help is to get something back.
In fact, I wonder if that can be defined as true help at all.
We should do for others because we love them, because it is something that flows out of the goodness of our hearts, and because we are following the example God has set for us.
The Bible tells us about our Helper, the Holy Spirit. Jesus, as recorded in John 4:26, tells us, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.”
As Christians, when we help people, we hope that they see Jesus in us.
We may not always be aware of it, but we do shine a light on others by our actions and words.
It’s humbling to think about the responsibility that represents. After all, we never want our actions to point others away from Jesus.
The Holy Spirit always points us to Jesus.
In fact, every time He gently nudges us away from something, He is pointing us toward Jesus. Every time He prompts us to speak a word of kindness or maybe hold back the word that’s desperately trying to escape our tongue, He is again pointing us toward Jesus.
And He never stops.
I wonder how many times I’ve ignored His gentle nudges.
I wonder how many times I’ve simply done my own thing. I wonder how many times He has protected me, times when I failed to acknowledge His presence in my life.
Yet He never stops.
Sometimes I have results in mind when I help someone.
That’s not an easy thing to admit, but there are times when I want something in return.
Maybe I want a relationship to be strengthened or one to move in a slightly different direction.
There can be all sorts of silent and hidden ulterior motives that we may not even realize are lurking beneath the surface of our helpfulness.
The Holy Spirit is not like that. There is nothing in it for Him. He wants us to give all of ourselves to Jesus.
I wonder what it would be like if, as humans, we could have that type of a pure heart. I think we need to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal our heart to us.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
psalm 51:10 ESV
and renew a right spirit within me.”
"Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts.
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!" - Psalm 139:23-24 ESV
As we see ourselves through the mirror of God’s Word, we must allow the Holy Spirit to gently wipe away every part of ourselves that doesn’t resemble Him.
Our goal is to live like Jesus so that others can learn about Him too.
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 2:5 NIV
As Christians, we have a resource, one that offers us answers to life’s questions. What a blessing that is! And what a responsibility to live out the Word of God so that others may see the love of Christ in us.
"You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone." - 2 Corinthians 3:2 NIV
May we allow the Holy Spirit to have His way. May we soak up God’s Word so that it flows out of us and onto others. May we use our light to point others to Jesus.
Pin this for later…
