Come And Go

 

Come And Go

James 2:15 “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

     “Do you mind if I pray for your car?” But no miracle, not on the intersection of South Lakeport and Morningside Avenue tonight.  Her car was dead and continued in obstinance parked by the pump.  “Well, gotta go.”  He had given it his shot and headed back to the van.  A sinking feeling then reminded him that the hands of God oftentimes get dirty.  At the cashier, one pair of Kum and Go cables he purchased at cost.  Positioning his van closer, power jumped and cranked the sedan’s engine to life.  “Can I give you a hug?”  The older woman pulled the pastor near with an expression of thanksgiving.

     Discipleship is a long word.  This lesson reminded the passenger. We believe in the supernatural and God’s ability to ‘do it.’  Instant fixes we’ve read about and occasionally witnessed.  But He has said:

1 Corinthians 13:4 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”

     In other words, we suffer.  Desire postponement to pain, He has called us to service.  When we put other’s needs ahead of ourselves, dangerous things happen.  This world is rocked and the kingdom is furthered.  We step out of the woodwork of faceless strangers to caring individuals involved in solving the immediate need.

Mark 6:37a  “He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat.”

     Feeding five thousand was no easy task.  The need increased exponentially as time demanded an urgent solution.  Jesus did the miracle part then included the disciples in ministry.  Charity surely suffered long as He taught them to walk out service.

     James hit the target when penning the words “faith without works is dead.”  They shall know us by our love not by the miracles wrought by our hands.  Self-sacrifice perks up ears and draws eyes like no other.

Acts 2:44 “And all that believed were together, and had all things common;45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”

Matthew 6:3 “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”

      Jesus is all about doing.

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