“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like white-washed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27
The Lord has been talking with me about the difference between doing things to simply check a box or doing things to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around you.
I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. I volunteer in a homeless shelter and have had several people say that they can tell we really love them. They say at other Christian places the people are mean. I volunteered years ago at another Christian place and was going to set out some mints for the people coming through. I was told, “No, those are the good ones for US. The other ones are for THEM.” Ron and I went to a Gospel Truth Seminar in Boston and after it was done, all the attendees flocked to the snack bar where there was one young lady working. Some stood there with their big bibles huffing and puffing and muttering about what was taking so long. We were appalled and told the young lady not to worry and don’t let that bother her. Ron, Gabi and I went to a very popular pastor’s church. He wasn’t there at the time. Most people treated us like lepers. It was so weird. I’ve heard people say, “That guy has been coming here for six years. You’d think he’d have a job by now or quit the booze and drugs.”
Beloved ones! Where’s your heart?! Where’s mine?! Haven’t you ever been stuck in a bad place spiritually? I have. For years. I thought I was powerless to overcome the things holding me back from walking in the freedom Jesus gives us. (Galatians 5:1) We are not powerless, but filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:9) and are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10) and the Holy Spirit lives in you! (John 14:16-20) He’s your Helper and Teacher as well as your Counsellor! (John 14:26)
We’re all called as Christ knowers to be His hands and feet. We bear His Holy Name and Presence and we should be showing those around us who He is by our actions. People should be able to tell that we’re with Jesus.
In Acts 6:2-4, the twelve said it wasn’t desirable for them to serve tables, but they were just going to study, pray and preach. Sorry guys, that doesn’t put food in anyone’s belly or help someone in need. It’s a good thing our Lord Jesus didn’t think it was undesirable to feed, heal, help and love on people.
They picked other guys to do the loving: Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. (A Gentile converted to Judaism.) Acts 6:5
They were loving people, bringing people to Christ and Stephen was performing great wonders and signs among the people. (Acts 6:8)
Then some jealous scoundrels stirred people up against Stephen, dragged him away and put him before the Council, the Sanhedrin. They knew Stephen was with Jesus.
And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. (Acts 6:15)
Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
James 2:14-26 Talks about works without faith, and Hebrews 6:1 and 9:14 talk about dead works; works that appear good on the outside but are done for the wrong reason.
The Lord looks at the heart.
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
“I , the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind.” (Jeremiah 17:10a)
And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15)
And they prayed, and said, “Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen.” (Acts 1:24)
We know that the heart is important to the Lord. He looks at the heart, with the heart one believes (Romans 10:10) and out of the heart flow the springs of Life. (Proverbs 4:23)
Beloved ones, if you’re just doing stuff “for the Lord” to tick boxes, don’t even bother. People who need Him will see with through it. It’s no wonder that people think God is this big meanie in the sky that holds a lightening bolt to zap them with. Jesus said the Father looks like Him. I don’t know about you, but I want people to see the beauty of Christ in me, the hope of glory.
Take some time to sit with Holy Spirit and together, examine your heart. Check your motives and who’s doing the ministering; you in your own power or in tandem with our Lord.
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you fail the test. (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. (Psalm 26:2)
Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. (Psalm 105:3)
May people seeking Him see Him in us; in our faces and our actions!
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)
Lead the seeking hearts into the same freedom you enjoy.
You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:2,3)
May it be so Father, and may we, Your kids, express you to those around us and minister Your love to them. Amen.