Removing Anonymity

Removing Anonymity

James 2: ¹⁴ My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? Can that faith save you? ¹⁵ Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don't have enough to eat. ¹⁶ What good is there in your saying to them, “God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!”—if you don't give them the necessities of life? ¹⁷ So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.

 

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After getting an increase in pay, giving became easier. I felt good about writing a check each week. But then the pastor asked something strange. “Who will go with me to serve people in the streets?”

 

• I thought I was “doing” enough by giving “my” cash.
• I thought I was “doing” enough by “going” to church.
• I thought I was “doing” enough by “attending” Bible study, deacon’s meetings and trustee meetings.

 

James challenges the norm of only  attending church and quoting scriptures. His challenge was probably aimed to get people out of their comfort zone and to “do” the things they “talked” about. This would take time, effort and face to face encounters with those in need.

 

My Observations:

• Serving people who are in need takes face to face encounters.
• Serving a group of people, without knowing their names, needs or problems, makes me think I am helping them vicariously through someone else’s efforts.
• GOD loves when I serve people face to face.

 

Overlooking the poor can be quite easy. I mean, when I give to a church and pass by a person holding up a sign, I begin to justify not serving the person holding up the sign, asking for help. I then justify not knowing or heling my neighbors on my block or in my apartment building. I also justify not seeking the lost on my own. BUT GOD wants me to be different.

 

HE knows my mind can become dull by sitting in another sermon or another Bible study or by watching another motivational video. Going out and actually serving people takes the anonymity away and opens my eyes to a world of need I would not have otherwise known. I am glad GOD wants me to get out of my comfort zone to serve those in need.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer challenge “faith?”
• Have you ever felt nervous about serving the poor?
• Have you served the poor directly outside of your church?
• Will you consider getting out of your comfort zone and serving the poor today so your faith will be made complete?

Following the Rules

Following the Rules

Jon 9: ¹³ They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. ¹⁴ Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. ¹⁵ Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

¹⁶ Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”

Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

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“You cannot leave the table until you finish your food” was the rule imposed on me. The problem was, I hated most food at that stage in my life. “How do I get the food off of my plate without it going into my mouth?” was the question I pondered. The answer came to me. I was sitting on a chair with pillows. I lifted up the pillow and shoveled the food under it. Rule followed!

• There were times when I interpreted the rule to my advantage.
• There were times when I did not enjoy the rule so I figured out ways to get around it without breaking it.
• There were times when I felt the rule held me hostage and I had no delight in the rule.

Blind from birth, a man was healed by JESUS. This awesome demonstration of power was met with contempt by the church leaders. Blindly, they overlooked the obvious facts that JESUS was and is GOD, by accusing HIM of doing work on the Sabbath. JESUS encroached on their lifestyle by showing compassion on their day off.

• GOD wants me to look at HIS rules as a guide to bring people to CHRIST.
• GOD wants me to use HIS rules as freedom rather than bondage for those HE wants me to bring to CHRIST.
• GOD wants me to drop my insecurities, doubts and fears so I can have my spiritual eyes opened to follow HIS rules with love.

GOD did not make humans so HE could torture them with rules they could not follow. HE made humans, knowing they would sin. The rules were made as a map back to the right path, which is JESUS, the CHRIST. If I interpret the rule in a way to “get around it” then I will remain lost. I am grateful GOD’s word is a way back to HIM.

• Are you lost?
• Are you making GOD’s word fit “under” your education or human observations?
• Will you place GOD’s word higher than what you learn so you can see HIS power and love daily?

Willingness

Luke 10: After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. ² Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

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With the proposal due in a very short time, I decided to stay at work until I finished. Hour after hour passed and before I knew it people were showing up for work again. It was the next day and I had not left work. I worked 36 hours straight.

There have been many times when I have put a lot of effort into work.

There have been many times when I put work first and everything else second.

There have been many times when I was willing to use all of my thoughts on work.

JESUS  appointed seventy people who were willing to put their mind and efforts into telling people about HIS kingdom. HE knew there were plenty of people who needed to hear HIS message, but so many people were focused on protecting their lifestyle, they would never help HIS cause.

JESUS wants me to take some time to tell people about CHRIST.

JESUS wants me to use some of my thoughts to let people know how wonderful CHRIST is.

JESUS wants me to be willing to give my life to grow HIS kingdom.

Willingness to say “JESUS is LORD of my life” is what GOD desires from me. HE doesn’t make it hard or weird. HE wants me to be willing to seek those who have lost their way back to HIM. HE says “There are plenty of people who need to hear MY message, but very few people willing to tell people about ME.”

When I ask “What does GOD want from me” the answer is very clear. “Tell people about the sacrifice MY SON made for you” is all I want from you, nothing more.

Are you waiting on GOD to give you direction?

Do you think obtaining human titles and human affirmation will prove GOD’s love for you?

Will you start believing the truth that GOD loves you and drop the lie of meeting human expectations today?