And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do in word of deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
It is human nature to want to be a part of something big....
Something that changes the world...
To be a part or a member of a movement that is recognized as a "game changer". Those things which have been labeled as having an impact on society.
I applaud such things as this.
I love it when churches are able to mobilize numbers of people to respond to a need.
But I think that we have a tendency to look over another aspect of Kingdom work.
To me, the real game changer is when individuals move in the name of Jesus. Those who do so because they simply love the Father and want to reach out to others. Those who do not have to wait for a pastor to tell them what they should be doing. Those who simply are moved by the Father's heart, and the Holy Spirit's direction to reach out.
Those people who are reaching out and touching other's in a one on one basis.
Feeding a neighbor....
Visiting someone who never seems to have any company stop by.
Sharing a smile or a hug with that cashier that seems to be struggling, and looks as though the weight of the world is on their shoulders.
Seems to me that a vast number of people seem to get left behind because they don't possess a gift of standing in front of crowds and telling the gospel story. They don't have a voice that would fit in with a praise team or worship band. Some might even go as far as saying that these individuals have no talent at all.
All they have is themselves and a heart of love, and because the church has not recognized their value, they seem to fall through the cracks when it comes to serving and sharing.
I talked with a good friend of mine yesterday, and they shared a dream that had been a real encouragement to them. My friend struggles with the thought that they really don't have anything to offer to the kingdom work of God. In their dream, they were entering a huge stadium. The place was packed, and as they made their way inside, an announcement came over the P.A. system....."Now entering the stadium" and it gave their name. The crowd erupted with shouts and clapping. This person told me that it was a thunderous applause that went on and on. Suddenly on the huge stadium video board images of my friend cleaning toilets.....helping others...doing what most would consider to be mundane tasks, and with each image the announcer would describe the deed that had been done. With each description, the applause would erupt again....The crowd began to shout this person's name....over and over and over.
As the explanation of the dream finished, my friend told me that God does care for the little things. That the little things done for the Kingdom was important. Was this a God-dream sent to encourage this person? I think maybe yes. Far too often the model for the church is for everyone to simply follow whatever the pastor tells them. He has the vision, not them. I happen to believe that such thinking is kind of backwards. I want to encourage each person at VRC to find out what God wants them to do. I want to help equip and train and encourage them to get out there and expend themselves for the kingdom. To see it brought into the lives of those who seem to have been forgotten and left behind.
Yes, it is great when you can go overseas to another country and "Do the kingdom stuff" in the name of Jesus. But such has the same value and impact when it is directed toward your next door neighbor. Helping to change light bulb's for an elderly person is a venue to show the love of God. Dropping a hot meal by to someone who is unable to cook is a source of the Father's love given to this individual.
Never...never...never underestimate the power and value of simply giving a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus....
Think on this today.
God on you...
mbb
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