The title for our new preaching series is, Sent by The King. The topic for this week is, Meeting
Real Needs. How do we recognize real needs? Once we identify a
need, how do we step in? What is appropriate help, what is enabling? These are
valid considerations, but do they matter?
In reading the Scripture
verses for yesterday (Sunday), I was struck by one phrase in Acts
4:32. "All the believers were one in heart and mind."
Whoa,
that is powerful and what a goal to strive toward. We could rephrase this by substituting a word or two. All the family members were one in
heart and mind, or all the employees were one in heart and mind. Or how about,
the entire country was one in heart and mind? Can you only imagine?
30 Then Philip ran up to
the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand
what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. (Acts 8:30-31)
Philip recognized a need and stepped in to help. How did Philip arrive at that place? He listened to to Angel. “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (Acts 8:26) Philip obeyed, he followed the prompting of the Angel, and found someone who needed his help understanding some of the scriptures he was reading.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. (Acts 8:30-31)
Philip recognized a need and stepped in to help. How did Philip arrive at that place? He listened to to Angel. “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (Acts 8:26) Philip obeyed, he followed the prompting of the Angel, and found someone who needed his help understanding some of the scriptures he was reading.
How many times have we
been nudged to do something, to go a certain route, to attend an event, talk to
a neighbor? How many times have we followed the urge and discovered a
special situation just waiting for us to step into. Could these urges be
the Holy Spirit trying to get our attention?
During a quiet time,
before starting the day, how often do we feel like we should do something.
Maybe calling a family member, or send a note to a friend. Just one time,
follow the prompting and see what happens. There just might be an opportunity
to meet a real need, and opportunity to transform someone’s life. At the very
least we might bring a smile to someone who truly needed one.
No comments:
Post a Comment