That is so true, about the experience of meeting one touched by God! When you are sitting in a room with someone like that, hearing them speak .. Its like Jesus is using them in physical form, working THROUGH them . I had that experience once with this really young Pastor who was entering into a church, coming out of Divinity school and because he was new, he wasn't surrounded by the people like the older, more experienced pastors were. But I had occasion to speak to him and it was something about his words, it wasn't his theology knowledge or Scripture memorized ...it was his sincere love for the family of God, and for Jesus Himself, and a deep knowledge of how Holy Spirit can come to comfort us and even lift us up out of our worldly obsessions...it was the way he spoke of these things like I'd never heard before. And he hated compliments. I told him how it seemed Jesus spoke through him and how I was sure he would help so many who struggled in the church. He said that would be an honor indeed if he would be worthy enough to be used by Jesus in that way. I told the other people in the church too and they started talking to them and they agreed with me. Because the young pastor had helped them too, and strengthened their faith. And like you said, he would say "pass it on" so to speak ...to give as you have received. To notice a person sitting alone in church and maybe to sit next to them, and to notice elderly people and help them with what they may need ...stuff like that. To step outside our own selves And our own situations for awhile and to give to people outside our own circle. You remind me that we all have something to GIVE too. It isn't always because of selfishness that we just TAKE ...its because we have no notion that we have something special to GIVE. We feel less, so what could we possibly GIVE? You reminded me that I too could serve in some special way sometimes. Thank you !
I thank God he sent a young pastor your way. And if I have said anything to encourage you - it is an honor, indeed, if I would be worthy enough to be used by Jesus in that way. (Smile). I love a friend of mine who is also a pastor, his name is Scott - because his demeanor is so slow and confident, he could be telling a lie and I would believe him. But the beauty of his friendship to me is the fact his demeanor and his words are coupled with my spirit that have the Holy Spirit proof-reading everything he says. And I am friends with him because we spur one another on in love and good deeds; patiently discussing and discovering God's truths alongside each other. He has become my mentor.
I see the Lords demeanor in my friend Scott. Our Lord never pressed anyone to follow Him unconditionally; nor did He wish to be followed merely out of an impulse of enthusiasm. He never pleaded, He never entrapped; He made discipleship intensely narrow, and pointed out certain things which could never be in those who followed Him.
Now, when I say Scott has a gentle-spirit, people today take that to mean we need to take away and eliminate the harshness out of Our Lord's statements. But Scott was always loyal to God's Word in its entirety, for what Jesus says
is hard; it is only easy when it comes to those who are His disciples. Whenever Our Lord talked about following Him He prefaced it with an "IF," never with an emphatic assertion, "You must." People who leave Jesus as their note of themselves carry with them a non-preaching attitude with them, rather, what they understand from the wisdom of God in their life is that God has gone alongside them discussing and discovering Himself with them their whole life, so why would they think to do it any other way with someone else? Discipleship, always carries an option with it. We are called to parent people not just get them to do a thing. That's not easy, but it fruits us and others up for real! AMEN Sista .... God is investing in you, let the river of life flow out of you!
God will even guide you thru your micro-wave experience. Smile.