With the recent tornado's both here in Alabama and now in Joplin, Missouri we hear things like "pray for the victims" or "give to this charity to help". No one is faulting that but when I pass signs here in Alabama that say "Pray for the tornado victims" that is nice but I want to add to that sign, "Go Help!" Sure some can not physically go help for either medical reasons or they have a job to go to so giving donations is superb! But if you are able to help and you just say "I will pray"
you need to try to do more. Money is vitally needed so be a giver if you can by all means, but get in the 'trenches' to if you feel God calling you there. Get out of your comfort zone.
Be salt and light. Be God's hand and feet. Go someplace you are not comfortable. Be His 'salt shaker'. Spread his love to others. It is sometimes easier to give a check than it is to invest your time. When you get 'out in the field' you become God's worker. There is not a thing wrong with 'just praying' or 'just giving'. Believe me I am part of a major prayer organization and prayer is vitally important but what I am saying is beyond prayer, 'get your hands dirty' so to speak. Get out there and make a difference if you are able.
There are many people that have the gift of encouragement either directly or by sending cards. This is vitally important too. So maybe they can not be somewhere in person or are not financially able to help but you can send a greeting to let someone know you care. Cheering people up is oh so very vital and important. So take the time to send a card if this is what you do best!
Matthew 5:13 says "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." In Luke 4:18 it says "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed." Isaiah 61:1-3 further carries this theme when it says "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."
If you stay under your 'bushel' and do not 'let your little light shine' how will you ever make a difference? Go into all the world the Bible says.(See Mark 16:15). This means the public arena, the movie theater, the classroom, the courtroom, the marketplace and all the areas God places you to shine for Him and make a difference in your world. Do not wait for a disaster to strike your town before you find a way to share God's love with someone.
Luke 18:1 tells us to "Pray and never give up!" Prayer does indeed change things but so does working for the Lord and being out there in your community being his witness and his co-laborer. Go now and change your world!
PRAYER: Lord today I want to make a difference where you place me. I want to pray hard but also be used by you to make a difference in someones life. Help me not neglect helping when I see a need I can fill. In Jesus Name. Amen!
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