What has to happen, or be said, to get you to help? Especially, to someone you don’t know. For Jesus, he just had to see. See the need.
Four times in the gospels, Jesus “saw” the multitude, and was moved with compassion, which in the Greek language means; “guts”. So Jesus “felt” the need.
Today, I saw a need of someone I didn’t know. I’ll confess my trepidation when I invited him into my car. I thought I was off the hook when I delivered them to their desired destination for panhandling. I went on to Lowes. Completed my business, and then sat in my car and thought about his business, God’s. I went back to where I had last seen him. Not there. I headed to my next stop. There he was. Justice, that’s his name. A young man, trying his best to feed three little kids, and keep the lights on. I took him to Target and bought enough to take care of one of his immediate needs.
I’m reading, Rees Howells, Intercessor. I was given the book by Paul Brady, (no relations) the pastor of Millennial Tulsa. I read when interceding for an individual, you must “identify” with the need to the point their suffering becomes your own, and their need, your responsibility. Today, after dropping Justice off where he lives, I started crying. It was then, I realized what I read, had moved from head knowledge, to heart knowledge. I didn’t just read it, but was living it. Now, I can intercede for Justice and his needs, because I have seen, and have “felt” his desperation. Now, I can truly help.
Copyright © 2018 Mark Brady, All rights reserved
“Beware lest you forget God’s purpose for your life” – Oswald Chambers
Who’s standing at the podium of your life waving the wand? Who’s directing you? Who is orchestrating every step you take? Who’s responsible for the sound coming from your life? God, you, or someone, or something else? If you believe in God and you see in your life things just seem to work out, look up, and smile at the conductor. God is doing everything you will allow him to, in guiding your life.
When someone does something nice for you anonymously, it isn’t a mystery to be solved, but yet, a love to be received.
In order for a miracle to work, it requires only one thing of you:
Yesterday, I celebrated being retired for one year. I also had a birthday this past week. In reflecting back upon both, it didn’t take long to see God’s goodness. His mighty hand, his gentle kindness, his correction, his presence, but in all of it, his love!
God doesn’t come with an expiration date.
My toughest challenge is being single. It’s not what I wanted, and certainly not what I thought would happen growing up. The apostle Paul, from the Bible, says being single is better because then you are available to God whenever he calls upon you, but Paul also said it is better to marry than to burn. Perhaps, Paul was shipwrecked one too many times!
brady, mark a. 