In my last post, I referred to the Peter’s healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate in Acts 3. Most of us today, however, do not seem to have the ability to pull off such dramatic healings, no matter how much we may invoke the name of Jesus. I don’t want to speculate about why this is, and I do not intend this series of posts to be a discussion of spiritual gifts. Instead, I would prefer to focus on the resources that we do have available to bring healing to the hurting in this world.
According to Paul, the greatest gift that God gives us is love.[1] Not only does He share freely with us his love, as demonstrated by Christ’s heart of service and his death on the cross,[2] but He also instills in each of us the ability to love others. Having given us this gift, he commands us to do something with it.[3] When we love as Christ calls us to, often we find that the result is no less miraculous than what Peter and John witnessed at the Beautiful Gate.
I saw an example of this at the Rescue Mission this weekend. Five of our teens, along with another adult leader and I, served at a facility that provides guidance and rehabilitation to drug addicted men. We had the opportunity to meet several men who had just weeks ago been slaves to their drugs of choice, who are now clean and sober, thanks to the love that they receive from the staff and volunteers at this facility. I have no illusion about the fact that some, if not many, of these men will relapse someday (perhaps soon). Having personally experienced the despair and hopelessness of alcoholism, however, I count every man in that facility who has the sincere hope of recovery as a miracle no less profound than the lame man jumping and rejoicing in the Temple. Unfortunately, some may have to struggle longer before they find lasting freedom. However, if only one man leaves that facility to live a productive life, freed from the chains of addiction, then that is a miracle over which we should find great delight.
Every man that walks out of that facility with the hope of a new life of freedom from addiction is a miracle. These miracles are made possible by the dedication and love of the staff, volunteers, and financial supporters of the Rescue Mission. No matter what type of ministry we are called into, we have the opportunity to see similar miracles happen: lives changed by the power of Jesus. These begin when we take the time to love another human being like God first loved us.[4]
[1] 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
[2] E.g., Romans 5:8; Philippians 2:5-8
[3] Matthew 22:37-40 (“He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’”)(NRSV)
[4] Ephesians 5:1-2 (“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”)
1 comment:
Joel this is so true. We are in a society in which most are lovers of pleasure and seekers of earthly creature comforts. which pretty much means we are unlikely to seek out ways of loving someone else when it makes us uncomfortable. As we truly wrap our lives around Christ we see in awe and wonder the great discomfort He so willingly embraced to 1) serve the Father, and 2) show love to us while we were still in our sin.
His Kindness and love leads to repentance.
Thanks for this post, Joel!
2 Timothy 3:4
treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
Romans 2:4
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
Post a Comment