Acts 20:28
“Now it’s up to you. Be on your
toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit
has put you in charge of these people—God’s people they are—to guard
and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
If I had a dollar for every time
someone told me in the last month about the notes, phone calls, and
words of encouragement that my mother offered them over the course of
her life, I could treat half the town to a nice dinner! My mother spent
a good portion of her day writing cards, talking on the phone to
friends who needed a lift…or even physically doing things for others.
There have been times that I have fussed at my mother for doing things
for friends that physically were almost beyond her…things that should
have been done by that person’s much-younger family members. She would
say, “But this is something I can do…and this person needs me!" Some
people “talk the talk” – my mother “walked the walk!”
I know I am
dangerously teetering on the line of judging others, but this is
something of a pet peeve of mine…Christians who want to talk a good game
– but they truly are “all talk.” Too many of us never give a single
thought to the other guy. We look at widows, single persons, and guests who
sit next to us on the pew each Sunday…but we never acknowledge their
presence. We talk about how concerned we are for someone who is sick…or
how sad we are about the death of a friend or loved one…and then we
never take time to physically acknowledge this…to check on the person
who is ill …or to reach out to those who are grieving after a loss.
Don’t
misunderstand me…there are people who do a great job of “feeding the
sheep”…of being the hands and feet of Jesus to others. Some, like my
mother, probably even go a little overboard. I am reminded of a dear
member of our church who spent years “feeding the sheep,” because her
mother-in-law had been totally neglected and ignored when she fell ill
and infirm…and Mrs. Peggy vowed that this would not happen to others on
her “watch!” If you could have seen this octogenarian’s daily calendar
of people to visit or “tend to," your jaw would be on the ground! Now
her own health is failing and she cannot serve in this manner…but there
will surely be extra stars in her “crown” in heaven because of Mrs.
Peggy’s faithfulness to this Scriptural commission – and God must be
greatly pleased with her efforts.
My charge to you this day is to
stop and look around you. Where are you called to meet a need? Who
could use an e-mail message from you that says, “How are you doing?”
Could you give up a 30-minute sitcom to telephone a friend? Could you
forego that shopping trip for things you really don’t require in favor
of visiting a shut-in, carrying out the garbage or running an errand for
someone who is unable to do these things? Where could you “walk the
walk” rather than “talk the talk” – and show others that you care enough
to guard and protect them physically, mentally and spiritually?
As
the Apostle Paul told the church at Ephesus, God thought His people
were worth dying for…including YOU! So it follows that they should have
worth to us, as well…and we should be ready, willing and able to
demonstrate this. How are you doing these days? We all have room for
improvement. The question is…will you? Are you ready to truly walk in
Christian faith and feed Jesus’ sheep? Will this be the day that you
begin?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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