If we are going to be relevant, if we are going to truly make a difference, we must practice what we preach. We have to program our minds to do the right thing at every opportunity. We have to let our gentleness be known to everyone.
Our response shows the world that our faith in God is how we deal with fear and tragedy. We show the world that God does promise to deliver us and that God promises to sustain us and force good to come from the painful events we experience in this life.
"After all, those who will live in peace must agree to disagree in many things with their fellow labourers, and not let little things part or disunite them." Rev. George Whitefield
Jesus uses us to tell people about the Hope that is in him. He instructed Peter to Feed his sheep. Through us, Jesus works to Heal the hurting and Cure those who are afflicted. We are there to Free those trapped in sin and to help them Walk in the light of his Love. We are charged with the Care of those who are weak and to Lead people to Jesus so they can accept the free Gift of salvation.
"There is scarce any possible way of doing good for which here is not daily occasion....."John Wesley, March 28, 1739. Translation: There is not a day that goes by that you don't have at least one opportunity to do some good for somebody who needs it.
In these times of extreme hate and division over every little and big issue cooler heads must prevail. In all that's going on the phrase "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" keeps reverberating in my head.
Jesus really wants us to understand that our lives should be a ministry to others rather than a service to self.
In the real world, there are many places where each one of us is excluded but the Table of the Lord is not one of those places.
Our faith in God is like the yeast a baker kneads into dough. As the bread bakes the yeast causes the bread to rise creating a rich and delicious loaf of bread. As our faith works its way into our very being our lives become enriched and meaningful as we work to reach the least, the last and the lost.
We are the seeds that God has sown in hopes that we will thrive and produce an abundant crop. Unfortunately, the evil one has sown weeds into the soil right along with us to impede our growth. Sometimes we need to ignore the weeds knowing that their time will come.