An Opportunity To Serve
There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. Deuteronomy
Yesterday I invited all who would to listen to Pastor Wachob’s message from Sunday, September 2nd. What did you think?
I came away thinking about a couple of things:
1) How much did Jesus really say about the poor?
· Blessed are the poor (Luke
· sell all you have and give it to the poor (Matthew
· preach the Good News to the poor (Matthew 11:5)
· when you have a dinner party, invite not the rich or your friends and relatives – invite the poor, those who cannot repay you (Luke 14)
· The early Church was always doing good and helping the poor (Acts
2) If I call myself a disciple of Jesus, am I obedient to His example both personally and in my church?
It is easy for me to agree with the theology that Jesus taught. It is practicing and living the life of Jesus that while simple, it is not easy. It may mean that I will be asked to go out of my way to pick up someone and take them to church for Bible study or worship or a Wednesday night dinner. They may not be as physically clean and sweet smelling as me! They may not have the same education and interests as I do. What we have in common is … the need for a Savior.
[Jesus said,] “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Revelation
The sacrament of communion is about reconciliation with God. It is not about grape juice and pita bread/wafers. It is a ‘heart thing’. It can happen at a Wednesday night dinner over chicken fingers and fries with sweet tea. A changed heart that says, “Yes, Lord. I need You every day, in all ways.” So I am going to be thinking some more about the message God gave Pastor Wachob to pass along to me. Thinking. Listening. And doing.