Get Up and Go!

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (MSG)

Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead.  As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse,  dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical,  treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God.  They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people.

On Sunday I was on the welcome team at church and felt inspired to invite two women home for lunch. I  had spent the night before and morning with my family and was free for lunch.

My question to them was 'are you spending time with family today?' to which they replied 'no'.

We had a lovely lunch of cooked chicken and salad and bread rolls followed by chocolate given to me by my family.

I was inquisitive as to why these ladies were alone on this, a family day. One woman, still grieving the loss of a son had been ostracised by her remaining children because of their interpretation of her grief. Not only had she lost a son to a mysterious death but she had lost the remaining children to offense.

The second lady did not have a reason.

Malachi 4:5-6 (MSG) "But also look ahead: I'm sending Elijah the prophet to clear the way for the Big Day of God—the decisive Judgment Day!  He will convince parents to look after their children and children to look up to their parents. If they refuse, I'll come and put the land under a curse."

The above  verse is the last verse in the Old Testament. It seems the people had trouble back then without TVs, cars, multitudes of toys.

Abuse is prevalent! The reason is satan is still working to destroy God's gift of life to us.

What did Christ do? He healed the sick, gave hope to the hopeless, showed the way, He ministered life.

What is my role? To minister? Why? Why? Why what about my needs?

Last night on Foreign Correspondant I watched a man in India, who lay down a promising career as a five star chef to go to the poor and needy in his community and cook for them. This man did not say he knew Christ but his heart was as big as the ocean.

I am grieving for God's church that thinks God is lucky if they show up on Sunday let alone minister to anyone, even family.

Our community needs us to be hands and feet of Christ. I really do understand the Salvation Army's motivation to reach out. Ministry is not for the few it is for all who claim Christ as theirs.

Go!