PASTOR'S MESSAGE...by Rev. David Torrence
"HELPING SOMEONE"
I can still remember seeing the painting of the encounter between Jesus and the crippled man as recorded in Mark 2:1-12. Jesus is seated in a house and the crippled man has been lowered before Him by his friends who had removed the roof of the house to get their friend to Jesus. The encounter resulted in the healing of the crippled man and his sins being forgiven.
I often wonder to what extent we would go to get a friend to Jesus? Who would inspire us to disassemble a house to gain access to Jesus? How much property would we destroy to pave the way for someone to be in the presence of Jesus? Would we commit such an act for a friend, a family member, an enemy, a neighbor, a pastor, or would we reserve such destructive and decisive action only for ourselves?
Tearing up a person's property is serious business. We would have to be pretty serious about our justification and our goal. We would have to believe that Jesus was going to really make a difference in that person's life. We would have to be willing to take the risk of personal loss to bless another.
Are you willing to suffer loss in order to bless another? Are you willing to take a calculated risk in order to improve the living of another? Will you place the needs and desires of another ahead of your own needs and desires? There is real danger in the church today that has been brought into our midst by the "ME FIRST" generation.
Love involves putting others and their needs ahead of ourselves and our own needs. The thirteenth Chapter of I Corinthians has a lot to teach us about love. We also find in I John 4:20-21 these words: "For those who say 'I love God and hate their brothers or sisters; they are liars: For those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they can see, how can they love God, whom they have not seen? The commandment we have from Him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also."
We live under the blessing of a call. We live in the power of the Holy Spirit. We live on planet Earth. As long as we live here we will be expected to also live in the Kingdom of God. We will be expected to live in the "JESUS FIRST" generation. When Jesus is FIRST, we gain much more than we lose, but we do suffer loss. We lose the sovereignty over our lives and give that sovereignty joyfully to Jesus. The "JESUS FIRST" generation will transform the world by loving acts of grace and generosity.
THINK ABOUT IT!
I covet your prayers, Laurel Hill needs your prayers, and you need to pray!
PEACE AND JOY,
