Life's Little Frustrations

I reached in my purse and pulled out a pen.

I pressed it to paper, moved it, but then

No mark was there--a discouraging sight.

I just hate a pen that will not write!

Evangelism

Psalm 34:8a exhorts us to "Taste and see that the Lord is good."

Psalm 66:5 invites us to "Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf."

John in I John 1:3a tells us that he will be writing about "what we have seen and heard" and will proclaim that.

II Tim. 2:2 Paul told Timothy, "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."

Evangelism can be well summed up in six words. Come and see. Go and tell.

Before I started taking chemotherapy I had a port inserted so the chemicals could go through it. I still have the port and will keep it awhile longer until I am reasonably certain I won't need it anymore.

Ports have to be flushed periodically in order not to clot so they will remain useable. I went this week to have my port flushed and met a friend of mine from Decatur who was there having the same procedure done. She told me how much she dreaded it and how painful it was for her. I asked her if she used lidocaine to deaden the area around the port. I apply it an hour ahead of time, and I only feel slight pressure when they access my port, not pain. She said nobody had ever told her about lidocaine. but as I left the cancer center she was on the way to find her doctor, get a prescription for lidocaine, and get the cream from the pharmacy. She was delighted to know of something that would help her, and I was delighted to tell her about something that would make her life more pleasant.

Evangelism is just telling someone else about the Savior who has helped us so much. What a privilege we have--not even the angels are given this opportunity. What a wonderful feeling to tell others about Someone who can make such a difference in their lives, both now and for eternity!

Father, we don't hesitate to talk about sales or helpful products or other things that might help people. May we realize that they need Jesus above all else and make telling about Him the highest priority. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

I'd like to be much thinner,

But I won't give up my dinner,

Or my breakfast or my lunch

Or my snacks--I like a bunch.

So now tell me what you think.

Is it likely that I'll shrink?

Ministry

Matthew 25:40, "And the King shall answer and say unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'"

There is no way for us to outgive God. We are truly more blessed when we give than when we receive. For years people who are hurting emotionally have been advised to do some volunteer work, to help other people, in order to heal. We cannot bless others without being blessed ourselves. But this should be a by-product of ministry, not its primary motivation.

Why should Christians minister to other people? Jesus commanded it, and that is reason enough. He told us over and over to love others, and He Himself was a model for how to do it. He had compassion for people and met some of their greatest needs. However, even Jesus didn't heal every sick person when He was on earth. He ministered to those in His path. Pastor Mat Nail has a very helpful quote, "Do for one what you wish you could do for all." Lest we become overwhelmed to the point of paralysis by the tremendous need in the world, we can be encouraged and directed by Mat's words and Jesus' example to do what we can where we are for the people we meet.

But our foremost motive for ministering to others should be because God lavishes His love on us. When we love God with deep gratitude for His goodness to us and allow the Holy Spirit to love others with God's love through us, we will just naturally pass it on!

Father, I am so grateful for all the many ways You minister to me. May I be a conduit for Your love and ministry to be passed to those You bring into my life. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

So far this winter's given us a bright, warm sun.

We've been lulled into thinking cold weather's done.

Buttercups are waving from winter's warm pleasant breeze.

Trees have budded out, but I'm afraid they're going to freeze!

Discipleship

Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus told His disciples, and He tells us, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

We are told to make disciples. Just what is a disciple? One dictionary defines it as "a pupil or an adherent of another; follower." A disciple is a learner. We are to teach others what we have learned about the Christian life. Paul told his protege Timothy, II Timothy 2:2, "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." In other words, as the song title says, we are to "Pass It On." Cru, formerly Campus Crusade, has a motto that says we are to win, build, and send. We are instructed to win people to Christ--that's evangelism--build them up in the faith--that's discipleship--and send them out to win others to Christ--evangelism again. So one objective in making disciples is to teach and inspire them to win others to Christ, to reproduce.

Another objective to discipling others is to help them live the Christian life, to make it well through this old world to the next. I like the book of Genesis because we can see qualities like faith and integrity lived out in real lives, in Abraham and Joseph. We are to make disciples not only by our words but also by our example, showing others what a true disciple of Jesus Christ should be like.

My mother grew up in an era when it wasn't considered socially correct for lay people to talk about their Christian beliefs outside the church. But she loved her grandchildren and was so concerned that they know God that she took a little tract one day and led one of them to Christ. This little child is now an adult, married and with children of her own. She has instigated Bible studies for young mothers in her town, taught children in her church, started a Sunday School class for young couples, and has recently taken on the job of children's minister at her church. This little girl Mother led to Christ and helped disciple as she was growing up has become a discipler herself. That's what discipleship is all about.

Father, so many people have helped to disciple me, and I thank You for each one of them and all they have added to my life. May I pass on the things I have been taught about the Christian life, both by my words and my example. Amen.