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The Gift of Going First

                When was young, I was fascinated by Evel Knievel.  In fact, my brother and I often imitated him by building ramps and jumping our bikes off them.  There was only one problem.  After each new ramp was completed, someone had to be brave enough to give it a try to prove that the jump could be done without getting hurt.  “Who is going first?” was an important question.  Once someone showed that it was not that scary, then everyone would try it, but someone had to go first.
                Now that I am older, I am even more convinced that going first is a gift.  Here are two areas where it makes a huge difference.
                Go first with your mistakes.  We live in a world where people usually clean-up or cover up.  In other words, we work hard to hide our problems and pretend that they do not exist.  Unfortunately, doing so only creates more problems.  The more we pretend, the more isolated we are and the harder it is to get over our struggles.
                Contrary to that, the Bible encourages us to be real with one another.  James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to each other”.  When we go first and talk about our issues, it does two things.  First, it allows others to help us carry our burden and to pray for us.  Secondly, it gives others an opportunity to be real about their own circumstances and fears.  Confession draws us together.  When we admit that we are not perfect, then we can start to help and support one another.
                Next, consider the blessing of going first with kindness.  In most situations, it is not hard to figure out the kind thing to do.  It is obvious.  Sadly, many people hold back from offering kindness because they are worried that someone will take advantage of them.  However, kindness tends to breed kindness.  In fact, scripture points out that, through his Spirit, the kindness of God should produce that same sort of kindness in us (Galatians 5:22-23). 
                You can be a difference maker in your world by simply going first and giving people an example to follow.  Once people are shown a better way, they often follow along.
                It will take some courage, but going first can change everything.  After all, Jesus went first with us.
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)

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