Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from “The Adult Sabbath School Guide” is titled “Ministering Like Jesus”. This is what it means to “follow” Him. To do as He does.
I love the daily titles for this week. Great titles and thoughts to inform us and inspire us:
1. Jesus’ Attitude toward People. “Jesus always looked for the good in others” (Quarterly for Sunday, August 16). Is this the way you see Him? I hope so. Jesus (God) always “drew-out the best in others” (Ibid). I hope you do not have a harsh, critical god. If so, you will be harsh and critical yourself. This is the kind of god the Pharisees of old followed. They saw the God of the Old Testament as vengeful and severe. Sad. “But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord’ (Jeremiah 9:24). This is the real God of the Old Testament. And the God of the New Testament, too. Sad that so many Christians today do not really know Him as He is. Some Christians still have a vindictive god despite Christ’s incarnation. But then “(all of us) are without excuse” (Romans 1:20) for not knowing Him as He is no matter what the era.
2. Jesus’ Treatment of People. “(Jesus) approach to people was disarming. His gracious words touched a responsive chord in their hearts… He was so compassionate that He was careful not to bruise unnecessarily someone who was just coming to faith or to quench the slightest embers of faith in their hearts” (Quarterly for Monday, August 17). Amen!
3. Jesus’ Healing Ministry. “Jesus ministered to people’s felt needs so that He could ultimately meet their deepest need… The healing ministry of Christ included much more than physical and emotional healing. Jesus longed for people to experience the wholeness that sin’s brokenness had shattered” (Quarterly for Tuesday, August 18). “Each act of healing was an opportunity to reveal God’s character, relieve suffering, and provide an opportunity for eternal life” (Quarterly for Wednesday, August 19). May it be so with us, too.
4. What Matters to Jesus. “…genuine Christianity truly ministers to the needs of those God brings into our lives each day… There is a hidden hunger and thirst for Jesus in the souls of human beings that longs to be satisfied” (Quarterly for Thursday, August 20).
This is Jesus’ ministry… 2,000 years ago… and now through His Holy Spirit. And our ministry, too. We are to be “little Christs” in this world. You and I are to live the Kingdom of God here on “this snake pit of a world to redeem it, not avoid it” (Quarterly for Sunday, August 16). You and I? Yes, to be sure. Through His Holy Spirit, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5: 13, 14).
With brotherly love,
Jim
P.S. I go back to Maine for a couple weeks starting on August 19. I will be going back to bury my son’s ashes and to connect with Kevin’s son. I thank you for your prayers and support. And I thank our God for coming to the “snake pit” in order to rescue and save each of us. It’s the only hope we have in this world of sin and self. May we all be true to our high calling, is my prayer for us all.