February 24, 2016

Put Hands and Feet to Your Prayers

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. -- James 2:14-17

The cry was desperate. She was facing surgery and needed help. Her mother was headed to respite care but there was just so much need, so much panic. How could anyone not care?

Facebook is good for many things. It reconnects us to people we haven’t seen in years. And it points out needs we didn’t know existed. This woman was a high school classmate I literally haven’t seen since we graduated. But I will do what I can.

I don’t know her. I don’t know her life. But I understand her need and it goes way beyond prayers. Don’t get me wrong. I’m certainly not being negative about prayers. The prayers of others have carried me when I was too weak and distraught to make it through another moment. I am grateful for the prayer warriors in my life.

But sometimes we just need to take the gospel out and apply it to real life -- just like Jesus. Can you imagine Jesus telling someone in need, “I’m so sorry. I’ll pray for you.” , then walking away without helping? Jesus wouldn’t do that. He would help. As His people, we’re supposed to help as well.

Honestly, for most of us, what it one meal? Or one ride to the doctor’s office? We just don’t want to be bothered. We’re busy. I sure know about that. Time, as I frequently joke, is not my friend. I don’t have enough of it. Maybe I never will. But I will try to always make time to help someone in need.

What’s your excuse? Could you invite that elderly widow next door over for dinner? How about giving that single Mom a treat and take her child, along with yours, out for a movie and a meal? Invite your new coworker to lunch. Or, even better, to church. Greet newcomers to your church and ask questions. Listen. Invite them to a small group or to lunch after the service. Go the extra mile. People notice and they remember.

We were not called to believe and then live our selfish lives just like part of the world. We are called to be set apart. That means living in such a way that others see Jesus in us.