I learned recently that if you hit the middle c piano key, the nearby keys– E & G– will automatically harmonize with the c. These two keys instinctly vibrate with the sound wave, and collectively, when all of those keys are in alignment with each other, the by-product is beautiful music to enjoy.
“One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us. One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there.“— 2 Kings 4: 8-11
A woman wanted to do something to help Elisha as he traveled through her town. She often fed him a meal giving him the strength that fueled his work in the area. But then it hit her to do more for him. So she decided to build a guest room for him to give him rest, use as a base, and be able to spend more time with him. This act of kindness blew Elisha away. Her hospitality won his heart over. Horizontal giving is a result of vertical living.
Giving is a gift but I also think there is a direct connection with my heart through the growing relationship in Christ. As I grow closer to Him, and realize the undeserving grace I have, my heart response instinctly should be “how can I give back, help, or serve you Lord for the undeserving acts of love that you have in the past and give me daily?”. What I find is we follow through horizontally on whatever we really believe vertically. Like the Shunammite woman, she wanted to do something special for the man of God, to bless him with no strings attached. But the good God we serve, our living and giving returns 10x fold as He blesses her act of kindness with the birth of a son (verse 17) later in the story just because. Middle C living is often played out through our actions and these acts glorify God in the process.
Reflect |
How does your connection with Christ show in your living?