"Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me." - Matthew 25:44-45
Have you ever seen a news report about some tragedy in a place that was maybe near or far from you? Of course you have. And perhaps you felt sorry for those affected - or perhaps not. But if it did concern you, even for a moment, what could you, personally, possibly do? I mean you can't help everyone can you? Surely it is not your responsibility to help everyone, is it?
When we arrived in Houston and in Fort Myers after exiting the interstate, life seemed to be "normal". Traffic backups, parking lots full of cars and people. So where is the devastation from the hurricane. It was there, but you had to look for it. Our expectation was formed by our introduction to disaster relief in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina. The effects on the areas where we served was pervasive. In Waveland, Mississippi none were spared from the loss. As you drove along I-10 into Mississippi from Alabama, you could see the impact of the storm on both sides of the highway.
What you could not see were the thousands of people in Mississippi, Texas and Florida whose lives had been turned upside down. Who had lost every material thing that mattered. Who were essentially made homeless and helpless in the matter of a few hours.
Yesterday I delivered 2 portable sheds to two separate households. Both homeowners elderly women living alone. One woman, Joyce, had lived in the house since 1970. You can do the math. Now the house is gutted and all of her furniture is lost. What she could salvage she had run out of places to put it - thus the need for a portable shed.
That brought Jesus to mind and his words in Matthew 25. Jesus did not heal everybody he met or passed by - physically - but He did make a way for everybody to be healed spiritually.
"And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” - Mark 5: 30-34
For us - all of us who are born again - we are given opportunities to bring hope to people who have lost hope. The question is - do you see them - do you feel the unction of the Spirit to do something - and do you obey that prompting.
God does not prompt you to do something just to show you are a good person. He wants people to see Jesus in you.
"may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might" - Ephesians 1:17-19
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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