Luke 14:12-14 then Jesus said to his host, when you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed. Although, they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
If there is one thing I know about baptists is that we like to eat. When people get together....food is involved. I can't even begin to count the number of fellowships I have been to in my life.
But not once have I heard of a fellowship where the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind have been invited too.
Not once.
We don't want to get our precious church buildings dirty.
Soup kitchen?
Nope.
Can't get our building dirty.
Closet for homeless people?
Nope.
Don't you know... Those people take advantage.
And they get our building dirty.
Food pantry?
Nope.
We have no room!!
We can't clutter up our church building for the needs of the poor the crippled the lame and the blind.
Coffee shop in our church?
No way! That could only be for the "church people."
The world might come in and....you know.... Dirty our building.
It's just so sad.
I want something different.
I want to be different.
I don't want to see "those people" I want to see souls that Christ hung on the cross for.
I have watched as my dear friends have given their life, their home, their time and their money to "those people." It's not easy. It gets messy. It gets hard. It gets tiring. They have had property stolen, they have had threats made to them.....but still.... They are serving. Giving of their time, their hearts and their lives. They are making a difference wherever God tells them.
Luke 6:35-36 but love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
I wanna be like that.
This year....my New Years resolution isn't to read the bible( done that...wont do it again) in a year or to lose a few pounds (although I could stand to do that!!) it's to FOLLOW HARD after Christ. I want to live a life that is led by the Holy Spirit. I want to live a life that is for others and not for myself. I want God to use me.
Broken.
Do I have enough courage to ask God to break me?
4 comments:
Amen.
For it to be what God really wants, I believe it has to come from the individual anyway. Any church as a group can give out a handout, but when you get involved as an individual (and yes, get your hands dirty), you will do more than any church can do. I truly believe individuals were given this mission for a reason. Bless you in your work. HUGS
I couldnt have said it better. Your post hits home with me so much. I want to be involved in the community, yet it is so hard to just jump in and do it. Thanks for the reminder!
@LA Mama I was thinking about what you said....and I think I have to agree and disgree....lol. I do think that as individuals we NEED to do our part to help those in need.
But in the early church grace flowed so much that people sold their belongings to help others.
People were in such need that in in acts...I think 6 the disciples chose 7 men to help with the daily distribution of food. Stephen was put in charge of it I think.
The apostles thought it was so important to help the poor and needy that they chose 7 men to be in charge of it. To DAILY help.
I don't know much about anything and I will admit that firtst hand.
I just know that I want something different then what I am seeing.
My faith is spurring me to do more then I am doing.
I do think the "church" needs to do more. I think the people in the church needs to realize that being a Christ follower isn't sitting in a pew sunday morning, sunday night, wednesday night and putting some tithe in the offering plate and then bam...you have done your duty.
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