Do you help make the world a better place? What do others see you/me doing to help make our little corner of the world a better place? More importantly, what heart attitude do we have while helping others and making a positive difference? Do we seek glory or glorify God while making the world a better place?

“(Keep) your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that … they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God,” 1 Peter 2: 9-12.

When Paul wrote to persecuted believers in the second chapter of 1 Peter, he told them to “keep your conduct honorable” by doing good deeds that will bring glory to God. Paul’s words are still true today. We can make the world a better place and glorify God through good-hearted actions.

Do you really believe doing Christlike deeds makes a difference? Think of a time when you were sick and someone took care of you. Have you taken time from your overextended schedule to care for someone sick or help someone in need? Think of the difference Christlike deeds of love, mercy, forgiveness, justice, and peace would make in our world. If you and I put forth effort to live out the verse from 1 Peter, we might say, “Our community is a better place because _____ volunteers here,” “Our office is a better place because _____ works here,” “Our school is a better place because _____ teaches/administrates here,” “Our church is a better place because _____ serves here,” “Our home is a better place because _____ lives here.”

The Good Samaritan story teaches the importance of helping people. How many local Good Samaritans do you know? There are many people doing good deeds among us that we never even hear about. Oh, the need to share the good news happening instead of concentrating on bad news with continuous coverage.

My heart stirs to share stories of Good Samaritans that live and do good deeds in our neck of the woods … Clinton, Sampson, and beyond! Throughout the summer, I will write about locals who share God’s love and help make our world a better place. There are many people who come to mind as I write in the middle of a rainy Sunday night. Writing about good deeds makes my heart merry on a dreary night. I’ve felt pitiful most of today…anyone with me on falling prey to a pity place that can consume without rhyme or reason? It’s a hateful place where the enemy pounces — pouring extra doses of pity any place the rascal finds an opening. I am happy, blessed, and thankful for a good life and loving family, so ‘get behind me Satan for I have a story to write and a song to sing. Pity tugs on heartstrings but the love of Jesus plucks the pity and replaces it with power in the blood of the Lamb. Praise puts pity in its place! As I sing this song, pity get gone!

“Take a good look around and if you’re looking down, put a little love in your heart. And the world will be a better place…for you and me, you just wait and see – put a little love in your heart”!

We, the people of eastern North Carolina, cannot change the entire world single-handedly, but by God’s grace we can let the difference Christ has made in us make a difference in the world around us by putting a little love in our hearts and helping people in need.

The poem by Joe Stowell sends us to a place of praise that gets the attention of Christ our King and chases away any remnants of pity trying to cling. Read the lyrics and let your heart sing!

“Love is giving for the world’s needs.

Love is sharing as the Spirit leads.

Love is caring when the world cries,

Love is compassion with Christlike eyes.”

Summertime stories will showcase Good Samaritans here at home and across our nation who are making the world a better place. You can read in depth stories about them on Tim’s Gift website…www.timsgift.com! You can also come to prayer on Tuesday mornings for amazing testimonies of Jesus and His love. If you feel led to share about a Good Samaritan in your neighborhood, write the name and why you feel the person is making the world a better place. Drop it off at Tim’s Gift or mail it to us at 108 NE Blvd. Clinton, NC 28328.

Everyone can do something to make the world better…we can let our little lights shine for Jesus — yes ; put them under a bushel and stay in a place of pity — no! Let Christ shine through you and see what you can do … through Him who strengthens you!

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By Becky Spell Vann

Contributing columnist

Becky Spell Vann is the owner/operator of Tim’s Gift Love Ministry.