Every Year over 2 million people die from AIDS
There are over 246 million people with diabetes in the world today
Over 3.5 children die from malnutrition annually
Approximately 1 million people commits suicide each year. Every 40 seconds someone commits suicide.
With these sorts of statistics there is room for those who care. Not persons who want to run away but persons who are genuinely concern about the welfare of another human being. God is looking for such people to help his church grow, to make a difference in this world. One touch can create a ripple that can touch thousands of lives. All you have to do is start that ripple, you may not see how the ripple grows but it will.
Kirk was strolling intently along the Corridor of his University with a pile of books that reminded one of the Tower of Babel. His eyes stared through the coke bottle glasses directly at some point ahead of him as his feet lumbered on taking him to his destination. He neither looked left nor right. Suddenly as he passed a group of guys liming in the corridor a foot shot out and poor Kirk and his Babylonian pile were scattered on the floor.
He stumbled hurriedly to pick up the books, not looking up at the boys who were laughing. His mind had learnt the art of drowning out such laughter. All he wanted to do was to gather his books and be away from there as soon as possible.
As he was reloading his hands, he realized that a young man had come to his assistance. He smiled shyly at this welcomed intervention but said not a word. He renewed his load and set out on his way again.
The next day Kirk was once more seen walking through the college with his huge burden. All it generated was a smile. After all Kirk was as weird as they come. He went to his locker and placed the books one by into their storage area.
Three years passed and Kirk was ready to graduate. He was voted alpha mater and was asked to speak on the behalf of the graduands.
Kirk spoke eloquently but of all the things he said one stood out. He said one day he was going home to commit suicide when a group of boys tripped him and caused his books to fall. While he was picking up his books young came to his assistance and this was when he recognized that there was still some good people in this world.
The next day he brought back his books to the school.
The young man had done a good deed and left. In his mind the story was over but in truth and in fact it was not. The story is never really over. The ripples of a good deed spreads further than the doer could ever imagine. What type of ripples are you making?
Over six thousand years ago one man made a fatal mistake and passed a death sentence on a whole planet. The ripples of his action are still being felt even today. Fortunately, there are being counteracted by the ripples produce by another man who came on the scene about 4000 years after. A man called Christ Jesus.
I am not only amazed by the man but by the way he caused people to behave and the stories of people lives which come to the fore because of him.
One of the stories I am particularly intrigue by is the story of the paralysed man. Let Us turn to Luke 5: 17-23
¶And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
Luke 5:17 - 23 (KJV)
Here it is that Jesus is teaching, and people were gathered around him for various reasons from every town of Galilee, Judaea and even Jerusalem. There were some looking to see a miracle performed, some had come to be healed and men like the Pharisees and doctors had come to set their wits against his and to trap him in some way to discredit him. All of these people in one place. Yet Jesus did not ostracize any, he welcomed them all.
We do not have to worry about why people come to church, the point is as long as they are here, we must minister to them. Who knows how they may be affected? There was a time that the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to trap him; this is reported in John. 7: 45, 46.
45 ¶Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
All of them were sitting or standing by waiting and watching, looking for something to happen. The bible tells us that the Spirit of God was present to heal them but yet it blatantly silent on any miracles being performed amongst them. But they were others who were active, some who were busy, busy helping their friend and its these men who cause something to happen.
Luke after painting a static picture introduces in the scene a group of men on a mission. A mission to bring their friend to Jesus. He was paralyzed. The men did not debate how he became paralyzed. They did not seek to determine the cause of his affliction. They sought to help him in the situation he was in. So often when a person needs our help, we want to know the history of how he/she got where he/she is. What we need to do is deal with the situation at hand. The bible tells us in Gal. 6:2 ‘to bear one another’s burdens’.
Many see this as saying a quick pray for the person and if the prayer is not answered and the problem fixed within the time, we think it should be we figure that the person does not have enough faith and leave it at that. James spoke about this attitude in James:2: 15-16
If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you sayunto them depart in peace, be ye filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
What if we did not focus so much on the problem but on the person? What if instead of trying to solve the problem we focus on loving the person? We may not be able to solve the problem but we will always be able to love the person. Once we begin to love then we become committed for the long term and are then in a position to help with the problem. Remember the Good Samaritan. He did not just look at the man and applied bandages, he took him and carried him to an Inn where he could be cared for. On leaving he left money and promised to return and pay any more debts which the gentleman may have incurred. Perhaps we should pay more attention to caring and less to doing. Let the doing arise out of caring.
Luke 5:18,19 informs us ; 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
These men sought a way to Jesus. They could not enter by one means, so they chose another. They did not give up because they cared. Over and over again the bible writers paint pictures of people who cared and sought desperately to obtain Jesus’ help
The nobleman came on behalf of his son- Jh. 4: 46-48 Besought
Jairus came on behalf of his daughter- Mt. 9: 18-19 Worshipped
Syrophenician woman on behalf of her daughter- Mt. 15: 22-28-cried
The centurion on behalf of his servant-Matt. 8: 5-13-beseeching
The bible did not say they asked, it says they besought, worshipped, cried- words that denote feelings. Words that tell us that these people really cared for the persons they were praying for. Words that tell that the person’s well-being were utmost importance to the prayers. The Syrophenician woman was willing to bear insults in order to obtain what she wanted for her daughter. These were in the physical presence of Jesus. What about us? Does a casual asking suffice? If it happens so be it and if it does not so be it. I tell you that caring matters. It will be reflected in our prayers and our actions. With God perseverance seldom fails.
The syrophenician woman did not give up, she persevere and obtained her blessing.
Sometimes we can be so detached, looking on the scene from some distance, not feeling the pain, the agony. The person smiles at us and says it is alright and we believe them because that is what we want to believe. Whereas we know that deep within they are struggling with what is happening to them. We must care to really make a difference. If God is to use us in a significant way we must learn to care, for caring matters.
Repeatedly, we see that Jesus honours the efforts of those who care. Luke 15:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
These men exercised their faith. They could not conceive of Jesus healing the paralytic in his absence so they sought to get him where Jesus could see him and Jesus honoured them by healing the Paralytic. Jesus knows the amount of faith each of us has, all he asks of us, is that we exercise that faith.
He could have chastised the friends for going to such lengths to get their friend in his presence. He could have berated them for not understanding that they did not have to bring the paralytic man into his presence, but instead he praised them. He acknowledged their faith.
We need not worry about how much faith we have, what we need to do is to exercise that which we possess. These men sought physical healing for their friend, but Jesus saw a greater need. What good is physical healing if a man is eternally lost?
Instead of telling the man get up and walk he said thy sins be forgiven thee, Causing a stirred amongst all those who were attending. Jesus used this opportunity to bring home a forceful point to his listener. As the Son of God, he had power to forgive sins.
Then in answer to their questions and thoughts of blasphemy he said to the paralytic man take up your bed and walk. As the man proceeded to walk out of the room the ripple effect was fascinating; the bible tells us that everyone was amazed and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying We have seen strange things today.
The effect must have continued throughout this man’s life and onward, as he too creates ripples of his own. And what about his friends, and the eyewitnesses as they tell the story. The ripple effect must have been tremendous.
It was for this reason that the Pharisees and leaders of the Jewish community sought to kill Jesus Jh. 12:17-21
The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. ¶And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
John 12:17 -21 (KJV)
These men did not seek glory for themselves. They did not seek to be known as the men who brought the paralytic, their names are not even mentioned. All that was important was that their friend was healed. How often we want to boast that our prayers brought about healing. Rather than ascribing glory to God we act as if we have some special power or there is some special power in the words that we utter, and call pray.
Great feats are accomplished when we care and pray. We must care enough to persevere. We must not only be concerned about the physical but the spiritual wellbeing of those around us.
One day George Muller began praying for five of his friends. After many months, one of them came to the Lord. Ten years later, two others were converted. It took 25 years before the fourth man was saved. Muller persevered in prayer until his death for the fifth friend, and throughout those 52 years he never gave up hoping that he would accept Christ! His faith was rewarded, for soon after Muller's funeral the last one was saved.
Our Daily Bread.
Will you make a ripple today
Will you care enough
Love enough
Prayer enough
To make a ripple.
Touch a life and create a memory.
