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The Lord has given each believer the privilege and authority to be a
witness of His love, forgiveness and redeeming power. We should never
think that we are not equipped or able to serve the Lord in truth and
power. We are all well able to share His Word and have been commanded to
not only hear His Word but also be a doer of it. The Bible declares in
James 1:22-24 "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is
like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself,
goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." Be encouraged
to be a doer of what you already know and believe. Be quick to help, lift
up and strengthen that one who is feeling low and know that you will be
fulfilling God's command by doing what you know in your heart is right.
I hope today's message encourages your heart to be a doer of the Word and
not a hearer only.
THE BULLETIN
My husband had a touch of the flu so I was alone as I entered the church
that Sunday morning. A woman I knew slightly had arrived in front of me,
and we greeted each other as the usher handed us each a bulletin - clean,
smooth, and colorful.
Because we were both alone, we sat together in a pew near the middle of
the sanctuary. I used my bulletin to follow the order of worship, even
though I knew it by heart, and to check the numbers of the hymns and the
Scripture being used today. When the hour was over, my bulletin was still
as clean and new looking as before.
But I had noticed my pew mate scribbling on hers all through the service.
Now as she started to put it into her purse, she saw me watching, and her
face got a little pink.
"I couldn't get along without my bulletin this week," she said with a laugh.
I must have shown my surprise. "I always just throw mine away." What value
could a bulletin be after the service was over?
"Oh, I couldn't do that!" She handed me the bulletin she was saving and
explained each entry.
By the hymn listing of "Sweet Hour of Prayer" was a note. "Marie...Favorite
...Cleveland...Pray...Write." Marie was an old friend who now lived in
Cleveland. She had come to mind because this had been her favorite hymn,
but now there would be a prayer and a note from an old friend for her.
Near the Bible text was another notation. "Call Anne...Alone...Dinner."
Anne was a recently widowed older woman from our congregation. The Bible
verse had brought her to my friend's thoughts.
Another note, beside the announcement of our Women's Association meeting in
this week's "Calendar of Events," said, "Call Ginny...Pick-up." Ginny was
someone new in town and did not have a car.
Other events on the calendar had a star beside them--events she would be
going to. A few had a "pray" notation--events she was not personally
involved with.
Along one margin was "Prayer List". It had the names of those Pastor had
said were in the hospital, sick at home, or having other trouble. I had
said a brief collective prayer for them at the time, but could not have
repeated all the names now, I was sure.
Most of the rest of the "white space" on the bulletin was filled with notes
from the sermon. This woman had really listened. Some of the points she had
underlined I had already forgotten. "I go over this for my devotion
tomorrow", she told me hesitantly. "Sometimes when I think again about what
Pastor said, I get completely new ideas. Like when you read an old familiar
Bible chapter and it suddenly comes to life in a different way."
I nodded; that had happened to me, but I never thought about a sermon being
like that. "I always mean to bring a pad to write on so my bulletin won't
get all messed up every week," she confided as we walked out together.
"But I always forget. I end up ruining the bulletin."
I thought of my own bulletin, as clean as though it had never been used and
destined to be thrown into a wastebasket within a half hour. Hers looked
terrible, but it was still serving her, others, and the Lord--and would be
all week.
I patted her arm. "Don't worry. Maybe bulletins were meant to be written
on, and I'm going to start writing on mine next Sunday."
By Betty Steele Everett
We are called the children of light and light's main purpose is to shine in
the midst of the darkness. You, who know the truth, be encouraged to be a
doer of His Word so that all those who are lost may see His light through
you and in turn open their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 5:14-16)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
James 1:25 "…whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man
shall be blessed in his deed."
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so
let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful
giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye,
always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
Matthew 25:37-40 Jesus declares "Then shall the righteous answer Him,
saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and
gave Thee drink? When saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked,
and clothed Thee? Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto
Thee? 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."
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: KNOWING FRIEND...
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem27.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: MY MIRACLE STORY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony186.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
