Morning Moments

It has been a wonderful two weeks for me, but I will talk about my trip to Nicaragua on www.heartforhim.org. Perhaps you had opportunity to read some of my previous blogs. There are almost 500 of them for you to browse. I trust you will enjoy some of them.

Today, I simply want to share my heart about God's care. I have travelled much of the world and met all kinds of people, but when I peel the surface back, we all have the same basic needs. Food tastes differ, apparel often differs, levels of undstanding one another because of culture differs, but there is one thing that does not differ anywhere for anyone - everyone NEEDS Christ. I don't mean everyone needs "church", but everyone needs a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That personal relationship is only the beginning, not the end.

It is much easier to make babies that to rear them. The object of most evangelistic efforts is simple to reach people of Jesus Christ. That is indeed a worthy objective as well as a Biblical injunction. But that is merely the start. Everywhere I go I find the same kinds of problems with those who have established a relationship with Jesus, but who often don't understand the fellowship part of the relationship.

To be perfectly honest, I am convinced that the root of the problem is FLESH. It is true that there are two major divisions of people in this world - those who know Christ and those who don't. The ones that do know Him have a heart to share Him with others because of what He has done in them, BUT, and here is the clincher, we join churches that have a bias about some minor doctrine and when we send missionaries across the waters, they often carry the same bias.

There just seems to be a problem with believers sharing fellowship with each other just because they are in the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Among believers are two distinct groups that are not even denominational - it is dispositional. There are the givers and the takers. The givers give of their time, talent, and treasure for the glory of God in the name of Jesus Christ. But there are the takers who give little and expect much from the rest of give so sacrificially of themselves. I'm not merely talking about money here, but about respect, responsibility, and reward.

It seems that far too many simply wish to share in the reward but not in the blood, sweat, and tears that bring the reward. That is where fellowship breaks down. It happens in families, churches, governments, and practically everything else. There are those who carry the load and those who simply will not.

What I am saying in all this is simply - TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! In your family, with your friends, in the workplace, where you worship, and whatever you do. If you preach or teach, BE PREPARED, don't wait until the last minute and stumble through a lesson or message. Do your part at home - making beds, cleaning floors and clothes, serving other family members. Pull your load at work - don't lie about being sick when you are not. Don't loaf when there is a load to carry. Do what you can, give what you can, be what you can, and help as you can, all for as long as you can and then God will have someone there to help you when you can't.

Lord, thank you for those who see and serve; who hear and help. For Jesus' sake teach us to do what we can, when we can, for as long as we can, without grumbling and complaining. God cares and we should too!

BLESSINGS!