The Answer to Life's Problems

I apologize for not posting for such a long time. This has been a very busy time in my life. I have been serving my church by being on-call. The on-call minister responds to all of the emergency and hospital needs for the week. I am on-call for two weeks back to back, so please pray for me.

Although it is a very busy and sometimes difficult time, being on-call is one of the great joys of my job. It is such an honor and a privilege to pray with people and bring them encouragement in the name of Jesus.

This week I have talked with people who are dealing with all kinds of difficulties. Some are struggling financially, some with an addiction, some with a health concern that will last the remainder of their life, some with a health problem that is causing excruciating pain that will be over soon, some are facing mental health challenges, and some are facing death. There are some that are children and some of that are senior adults and many are adults in between.

In any and every case there is one thing that each of these struggling individuals needs. They need love. They need someone to tell them that God loves them and then be shown through the life of one of God's people that they are truly loved.

It is amazing to me the stark difference between those who are being loved by the people of God and those who are not. I visited with people this week who are in a small group, service team, or an adult bible fellowship in our church and it was amazing how much love they received. People were taking care of their homes and families, visiting them, praying for them, and just sitting with them to show them love. They will be cared for long after their visit to the hospital with meals, cards, calls and visits to their home. I have also been with people who are not connected in a church family. Some attend a church, but are not involved in close relationships. Others don't attend church and have no way of having a church family of friends to surround them.

Those who are loved and cared for by a circle of Christian friends have such a peace. There is a confidence I find in them that is inspiring.

Here's the point. People need you and you need people. We all need the love of Jesus reigning in our hearts and living through our lives. We need the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us to bring and give comfort. You need people around you who can point you to the Lord and remind you of the hope you have and they need you to do that for them. We all need it. Those who are in the bed sick and those who are standing or sitting by the bed giving comfort need it. We need to be reminded to look to the Lord for our strength.

What is surprising is how much everybody gets out of the experience of sharing life. Those who give the most get the most. Those who provide the care to others gain a joy and even a great happiness. Those who receive the care find peace.

We may not be able to fix people's problems. We may not be able to make them better, but we can give them what they need. We can give them love.

Meditate on this. I will be speaking from this text tomorrow.

Colossians 3:12-16 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.