God Cred*

God Cred as opposed to Street Cred. In response to my last blog, Street Cred, what would I consider God Cred. The very first thing that came to mind was the Christian couple that took me into their home when I was but 18 years old. I had left my parents home and I was at a very unstable time in my life. They charged me $35 a month for room and board, when I got a job. Before I found a job, they didn't expect anything of me. When I think back on my life, I think how easy it would have been for me to get on a wrong pathway at that time in my life.  They helped me on the right path. It was a big thing they did for me. They were not related to me and knew me and my parents from church. That should be a God Cred for them.  In Luke chapter 10, starting with verse 25 we read the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man was traveling the road from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was robbed. They stripped him of his clothes and beat him and left him half dead. A Priest walked that same road a short time latter and when he saw the man he walked down the other side of the road and didn't even check on him.  A Levite came next. Levites had religious duties and possibly some political duties and they lived off the tithes that were brought to the temple. They played music or were guards in the temple. Back to the parable, The Levite also walked on the other side of the road and did nothing when he came to the spot where the man had been robbed and beaten, left for dead. Then came the Samaritan and when he saw the man, he immediately went to him, cleaned his wounds as best he could, bandaged him and took him on his donkey to an Inn.  He took care of him, attended to his wounds, fed him and paid for a room for him. The Samaritan left money with the Inn keeper and asked him to care for the man and if the cost was more than what he gave him right then, he would reimburse him when he came through again. In the last verse of chapter 10, Jesus says, "Go and do likewise."  Then in Matthew 25 verse 35 Jesus says "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." When we see to the needs of others around us, Jesus is saying it is the same as doing it to him or for him.  I believe that is what that Christian couple did for me, they did it for Jesus himself.  God Cred's. This is just a small part of it. In James 2:26  we are told faith without deeds is dead. God Cred's are when we do good for others as part of our faith in God.  I think if I talk about this long enough I would sooner or later get to being forgiving when others mistreat us. This is just a start, perhaps I should make a list like the list I saw of Street Creds.
All for now. God bless, LVZ.