So...you've probably never thought you'd ever hear me say that. Well I didn't say it, I typed it. I didn't vote for Virg Bernero in the last mayoral election, then again I can't vote in the Lansing elections because I am a resident of Dewitt Township.
However, if I had been able to vote, I would not have voted for Mayor Bernero. I have my reasons. Whatever my own political views, I cannot discount anything the Lord does, and He will use whomever He chooses, whenever He chooses, wherever He chooses, to accomplish His will. That is exactly what happened yesterday....
Yesterday was the annual Church of Greater Lansing food drop, a gathering of believers who come together in unity for a single day and bring food to a list of people who sign up to receive it. Yes, this event is limited to one day per year. Anyway, the event was quite a success, an accomplishment if you will. Much money was raised, which very much blessed the Mid-Michigan Food Pantry Network. It also blessed the 2,800 families that received a box of goods.
Before the 1.000+ Christians of a variety of denominations got in their cars and drove house to house delivering food and praying over the families (such a great idea!), there was a rally that served many a purpose. I think one of the reasons was to unite us in heart and mind, and send us out under a prayer covering with Jesus before our eyes.
12 leaders, religious and political sat onstage in the MSU auditorium where we were gathered for worship and hype-building, and each of them were given the opportunity to speak. Each leader spoke purposefully and eloquently, patting us on the back until we glowed with excited self-righteousness and pride. A couple of the leaders brought things back to Jesus and how proud He would be of what we were doing. One leader just brought it back to Jesus; that was nice. God in His cool, funny, ironic way chose to speak through none of them. Instead, He chose the one person who seemed to be there for all the wrong reasons. I am sure many in the crowds thought that Mayor Bernero was at the rally for political reasons, which he might very well have been. Some might have been confused as to why he was there at all. However, our much criticised and seemingly flop-headed city leader opened his mouth and said what needed so badly to be said,
"You may have a neighbor who needs a shoulder to cry on. Maybe their house is in forclosure, or maybe there are some other reasons why they might need a helping hand. There are others around you in your community who need your help. Friends and family...a complete stranger. These people might need food or financial support, or just a kind word."*
Wow! Wow. Mayor Bernero really hit the nail on the head. Although what we were doing yesterday was a noble effort and a very good deed, and most likely ministered to anyone who heard of it, saw it or participated in it, I think it is rather important that we believers were exhorted to continue those good works in our daily lives.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am sure that there are those who do good works daily, who help their neighbors, or their families, or their friends, or maybe even strangers. However, from my personal observations, we Christians could be doing a lot more of loving others as ourselves. We do so much, it's true. Christians are some of the busiest people on earth! At least American Christians are (I can't rightly say what Christians are like in other countries, seeing as how I haven't lived among them).
If only we remembered that Jesus Himself summed up the entire law of God. In Matthew chapter 22, the Pharisees and Sadducees question Jesus about the commandments asking, "Which is the greatest?" Jesus replied, "Love God with all your heart and soul and mind. This is the great and first commandment. The second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself...."
When asked by a lawyer, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus told the parable about the good Samaritan. You can read it in Luke chapter 10. The reason the Samaritan was the injured man's neighbor was because he had compassion on him. This passage used to confuse me. I thought, does this mean that my neighbors are only those who show compassion towards me, and they are the ones I should love as myself? That sounds too easy. Plus, Jesus tells us to love our enemies, because there is a reward in it. Now I believe that it isn't about distinguishing who is your neighbor, and who is not. I believe that the parable's point is that we should be neighborly to others; we should have compassion. The Samaritan had compassion on his enemy...on the one who if not injured may have sought to cause the Samaritan injury!
This is the revelation that came to me from God through Virg. What a laugh! I am only seeing in part, of course, and who knows all that God did yesterday? It sure felt good to be in a united part of the body. Even if it was only for a day. It was a taste of what things will be like when Jesus returns to reign! Oh, words cannot express my excitement! I felt as if we could take on anything! So many divisions in the Body...so many denominations. Yet, for whatever reason each individual had for being there, we were together again and it was amazing!
In closing, I was exhorted by God yesterday, to take an account of my deeds. If faith without deeds is dead, no wonder it is so hard to be faithful! It is up to me to start showing God's love, and my own love to others in need. It is up to me to show love to my enemies. I pray that the Lord will fill me up with greater portions of love, that He will increase the love He has placed in me already, and that He will make me fall deeper in love with Him. He is so worthy of the deepest love, and He gives it! Thank you Jesus, Yahweh, Holy Spirit! Amen.
However, if I had been able to vote, I would not have voted for Mayor Bernero. I have my reasons. Whatever my own political views, I cannot discount anything the Lord does, and He will use whomever He chooses, whenever He chooses, wherever He chooses, to accomplish His will. That is exactly what happened yesterday....
Yesterday was the annual Church of Greater Lansing food drop, a gathering of believers who come together in unity for a single day and bring food to a list of people who sign up to receive it. Yes, this event is limited to one day per year. Anyway, the event was quite a success, an accomplishment if you will. Much money was raised, which very much blessed the Mid-Michigan Food Pantry Network. It also blessed the 2,800 families that received a box of goods.
Before the 1.000+ Christians of a variety of denominations got in their cars and drove house to house delivering food and praying over the families (such a great idea!), there was a rally that served many a purpose. I think one of the reasons was to unite us in heart and mind, and send us out under a prayer covering with Jesus before our eyes.
12 leaders, religious and political sat onstage in the MSU auditorium where we were gathered for worship and hype-building, and each of them were given the opportunity to speak. Each leader spoke purposefully and eloquently, patting us on the back until we glowed with excited self-righteousness and pride. A couple of the leaders brought things back to Jesus and how proud He would be of what we were doing. One leader just brought it back to Jesus; that was nice. God in His cool, funny, ironic way chose to speak through none of them. Instead, He chose the one person who seemed to be there for all the wrong reasons. I am sure many in the crowds thought that Mayor Bernero was at the rally for political reasons, which he might very well have been. Some might have been confused as to why he was there at all. However, our much criticised and seemingly flop-headed city leader opened his mouth and said what needed so badly to be said,
"You may have a neighbor who needs a shoulder to cry on. Maybe their house is in forclosure, or maybe there are some other reasons why they might need a helping hand. There are others around you in your community who need your help. Friends and family...a complete stranger. These people might need food or financial support, or just a kind word."*
Wow! Wow. Mayor Bernero really hit the nail on the head. Although what we were doing yesterday was a noble effort and a very good deed, and most likely ministered to anyone who heard of it, saw it or participated in it, I think it is rather important that we believers were exhorted to continue those good works in our daily lives.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am sure that there are those who do good works daily, who help their neighbors, or their families, or their friends, or maybe even strangers. However, from my personal observations, we Christians could be doing a lot more of loving others as ourselves. We do so much, it's true. Christians are some of the busiest people on earth! At least American Christians are (I can't rightly say what Christians are like in other countries, seeing as how I haven't lived among them).
If only we remembered that Jesus Himself summed up the entire law of God. In Matthew chapter 22, the Pharisees and Sadducees question Jesus about the commandments asking, "Which is the greatest?" Jesus replied, "Love God with all your heart and soul and mind. This is the great and first commandment. The second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself...."
When asked by a lawyer, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus told the parable about the good Samaritan. You can read it in Luke chapter 10. The reason the Samaritan was the injured man's neighbor was because he had compassion on him. This passage used to confuse me. I thought, does this mean that my neighbors are only those who show compassion towards me, and they are the ones I should love as myself? That sounds too easy. Plus, Jesus tells us to love our enemies, because there is a reward in it. Now I believe that it isn't about distinguishing who is your neighbor, and who is not. I believe that the parable's point is that we should be neighborly to others; we should have compassion. The Samaritan had compassion on his enemy...on the one who if not injured may have sought to cause the Samaritan injury!
This is the revelation that came to me from God through Virg. What a laugh! I am only seeing in part, of course, and who knows all that God did yesterday? It sure felt good to be in a united part of the body. Even if it was only for a day. It was a taste of what things will be like when Jesus returns to reign! Oh, words cannot express my excitement! I felt as if we could take on anything! So many divisions in the Body...so many denominations. Yet, for whatever reason each individual had for being there, we were together again and it was amazing!
In closing, I was exhorted by God yesterday, to take an account of my deeds. If faith without deeds is dead, no wonder it is so hard to be faithful! It is up to me to start showing God's love, and my own love to others in need. It is up to me to show love to my enemies. I pray that the Lord will fill me up with greater portions of love, that He will increase the love He has placed in me already, and that He will make me fall deeper in love with Him. He is so worthy of the deepest love, and He gives it! Thank you Jesus, Yahweh, Holy Spirit! Amen.
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