Friday: Further Thought – Jesus Desired Their Good
Read Ellen G. White, “Our Example,” pp. 17-28, in The Ministry of Healing; “ ‘One Thing Thou Lackest,’ ” pp. 518-523, in The Desire of Ages; “A Social Life,” pp. 186-188, 190-192, 194-196, in My Life Today.
Image © Bjorn Thorkelson from GoodSalt.com
“In order to reach all classes, we must meet them where they are; for they will seldom seek us of their own accord. Not alone from the pulpit are the hearts of men and women touched by divine truth. Christ awakened their interest by going among them as one who desired their good. He sought them at their daily avocations and manifested an unfeigned interest in their temporal affairs.” – Ellen G. White, My Life Today, p. 186. How true that many people today, for various reasons, will “seldom seek us of their own accord.” Just as Jesus came down and reached us where we are, we need to do the same for others. On one level, this shouldn’t be so hard. There are so many people out there with so many needs. The world is a hurt and broken place with hurt and broken people who, in some cases, simply crave someone to listen to them, someone to talk to, someone who cares. And of course, as a church body, we should be able to give them to some degree the physical help that they need. We need to be careful not to be guilty of what James warned about: having faith but not the deeds to reveal it. How interesting, too, that he expressed that warning, not in the context of diet or dress or personal behavior, but in the context of helping the needy. (See James 2:14-17.) Anyone can say that they have faith. How we respond to our “neighbor” is the true measure of that faith.
Discussion Questions:
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Thank God for power given to the diciples..hoping that all the saints must have this power in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..Amen..
Love and respect of fellow church members must be preached and demonstrated from the pulpit and among church members first
Most Christians, especially Seventh Day Adventist Christians, have a history of caring for the needs of others. Many of these needs are spread over a variety of categories. Physical as well as Spiritual. Some choose to form group participation, others are more aware of individual personal needs and contacts. James 2:15,16 is a reference text primarily about Faith. But compassion and love are also needs that need to be met.
How often are we genuinely interested in there secular affairs? Do we seek them at there ball games, fishing lakes, flying clubs, racket ball courts, or bird watching societies? Or might we be labeled isolationists?
Genuine faith in God and His ability to save us always produces good works. James assumes that you have already read Romans and come to the conclusion that we are saved by faith, not of our own merits, but by Christ righteousness. What marvelous grace He gave us. Now James is not so concerned about faith that saves us as he is about maintaining it. In fact he was so concerned that he was very blunt about it. “Faith without sharing with others our life, our means, our love, is dead.” In essence James 2:14-17. Maintaining faith has a lot to do with the test of discipleship, growing up into Christ,the work and the life, a knowledge of God, the privilege of prayer, what to do with doubt, and rejoicing in the Lord. Philippians 1:26. Philippians 4:4. Revelation 19:7.