I spoke to my aunt this morning and she placed a word in my heart. What’s amazing is that even more than the specific word that she shared, she said that her words were actually the words of my late uncle (her brother), Rev. Dr. Timothy Early.
Wow… Once again, God was using my uncle’s legacy to speak to my heart. When I realized this, I reflected on the theme of the Leadership Development Institute that I “randomly” attended this past weekend while in Jersey (see my one of my previous posts: New Jersey changes…). God was linking everything together. He’s making me listen by connecting every moment of my life to another moment.
Here’s the word:
We have to come out of the PULPIT in order to PULL people out of the PIT.
What is a pit?
A pit is a place of pain and despair that we Christians often fall into or experience. Examples of pits include poverty or financial despair, loss of a loved one, and illness. Being in a pit can be emotionally stressful, but with the help of others, it should only be temporary.
What does this mean?
It means that true work for Christ is more than what’s preached and taught in church- it includes physically stepping out and reaching others. Think of Christ Himself. He taught and preached as He walked from town to town, reaching and healing people.
If Christ was God enough to minister to the people but human enough to actually be near the people, then we MUST do the same.
If we say we are Christians, bear our crosses for Christ, and strive to be like Him, then we must live every aspect of His word- which includes service. Read what the Bible says about faith without works…
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
-James 2:14-26 KJV
Reflection…
Being able to preach/teach/prophesy the word of the Lord is amazing and it will definitely save people. However, we must also be able to step into the streets and help His children.
The pulpit should not be a barrier between the preacher and the congregants. It is, in fact, just a platform to spread God’s message. Let us all step from behind the pulpit and pull people out of their pits.
Be blessed.
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