The Living Portrait of Jesus

I asked, "Lord, how do I begin my walk with you?"
and He led me to the river Jordan.

"I want to share You," I said, and I watched
as He walked and lived among the people.

"How can I see the needs of others?" He
introduced me to a woman by a well.

"Jesus, please teach me to pray," I pleaded, and
I noticed He had tears in His eyes as He took my hand.

"Lord," I asked, "What is compassion?" and I saw
Him embrace a lonely leper.

"How can I learn to care like that? What is grace?
What is mercy? What is love?" He told me of
His throne in Heaven. I looked at Him standing
there in the dusty road, and I began to
understand.

"Master, what must I do to have a servant's
heart?" He knelt and washed my feet.

"Oh, Lord, " I cried, "How do I get rid of this
pride? He did not answer, but willingly
left with the guards.

"How can I know the truth of Your power?"
I went to His tomb, but He wasn't there.

From August 25, 1987

The Faith of Friends

I told a friend goodbye today
Our paths may never cross again
He's moving on... beyond... away---
His life is turning a new bend.
The roads we travel are not the same;
our direction is different, too
We differ in destination, in aim,
and in the walking that we do.
The road I walk is on higher grounds,
for the Lord has lifted me
to a place where His promises abound,
a plane my friend can't see.
My friend has never walked this path
nor known the Master's guiding hand.
He has never glimpsed the glory
of that precious Promised Land.
But God has allowed me the chance to share,
to show the signs of His love,
to forgive, to comfort, to strengthen, to care,
to tell of Heaven above.
My friend has surely seen the signs,
but the choice is his to make
He is aware of the route divine,
but which road will he take?
I'm not sure if I'll ever have other chances
to show my friend the way;
I can only be thankful for past circumstances.
I can only pray
that along life's road a new walk will begin
in the journey of my friend
and some sweet day we'll be reunited
at our journeys' end

Sometimes we feel discouraged in our efforts to minister to others, especially to a close friend or family member who seems disinterested. However, we must continue to pray and know that God hears our prayers. In this way we are like the paralytic's friends who carried him to Jesus that he might be healed (Mark 2: 3-5). It was the evidence of their faith that helped to make the difference. Verse 5 says, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven" Continue to pray!!

From August 5, 1986

Me Serve?

I love to see God's children
winning others to know the Lord,
with faith as their foundation
and the Bible as their sword.
It gives my heart such joy
to see God's family grow--
to watch as they give their lives to Jesus
and my Lord they come to know.
I sing praises of jubilation
as others give their testimony;
My thankfulness is sincere
and my smile - it isn't phony.
I truly love to see those around me
work to share the wondrous story,
and I look forward to the day
when we'll all meet in glory,
and I'll watch as crowns are given
to those who do deserve...

What that? What did you ask me, Master?
What do you mean did I serve???

We are often comfortable with sitting back and relaxing until someone professes belief in Christ, and THEN we go into action. We smile with genuine joy, and we extend a warm handshake to express a welcome; we tell individuals how truly glad we are to have them join the family of Christ. Then, we walk back to our padded pew and wait on the next person to come forward.

God's Word shows us that these are "the latter days," and Christ's return draweth nigh. The words of the prophets seem to be found in the headlines of our newspapers today, and yet we sometimes prefer to not draw a connection between the two. Members of our family are still without Christ, neighbors are out of fellowship with God's children, and we're still sitting on our padded pews. Think of the results we would see if EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US sought out at least one person to share God's Word and love with. What would happen if every member of our church put the name of one specific person on our prayer list and asked the Lord to open up ministry opportunities with that person?

Perhaps we're thinking that as long as SOMEONE is doing the work, we're off the hook. No way! Each of us will be held accountable for the efforts that we didn't make. What about all those who will face eternity without God because we never left our pews?

From February 14, 1984

A Tree Not-So-Firmly Planted

This view along the Virginia Creeper Trail was strikingly beautiful. I found the leaning tree, whose stand of roots had been washed away by the stream, very poignant in the midst of perfection. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Many years ago when I was very active in my church, I struggled with the question of whether or not God frowned upon women taking leadership roles in ministry. Personal circumstances inclined me to think that Paul had good reason to "suffer not a woman to teach." (1 Timothy 2:12) Yet, I was asked to do so and seemed equipped to do so.

I spent a lot of time in my own personal research of the issue, reading from articles by Robert L. Saucy, A. Duane Litfin, and H. Wayne House, as well as the Broadman Bible Commentary and other sources. For a period, declining specifically to teach men served more than one purpose, even though I felt I was forfeiting gifts and blessings along the way. I saw that Jesus empowered women, but I couldn't argue against the seemingly obvious instruction of Paul's words.

One of the strangest influences in my eventual realization was Dennis Covington's book, Salvation on Sand Mountain, a true story about a preacher convicted of attempting to murder his wife with rattlesnakes. If you read the book, you must also listen to Kate Campbell's haunting song, "Signs Following," which is related to the same story. Near the end of the book, Covington writes about a message he delivered at a snake-handling church:

I knew I was in the Word now. It was close to the feeling I'd had when I'd handled. "Mary Magdalene was the first person to spread the news of the risen Christ!" I shouted. "She was the first evangelist, and the men didn't even believe her! So when we start talking about a woman's place, we better add that a woman's place is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! In Him there is no male or female, no Greek or Jew!" and I spun on Carl. "Am I in the Word?"
"No," Carl said. "You're not in the Word."
"Are you telling me I'm out of the Word?"
"Yes, you're out of the Word." He smiled. It was a smile of enormous satisfaction and relief. At last, we had reached the end of our story, his eyes seemed to say.

About that same time, I read Nancy Ammerman's collection of articles, Southern Baptists Observed. Let's just say a lot of things came into focus for me.

On Wednesday nights, I'm now attending a class that's discussing, "What the Bible Doesn't Say about Women." Still seems to me that we work too hard to climb over Paul's words. Look at how Priscilla taught Apollos in Acts 18:26. Now, about that leaning tree....

Not so good Samaritans

There was a man I saw along the highway every day,
for it was his home, and he had not a pillow for his head.
My heart ached for him as I saw him there each day,
and I wondered where he came from, who he was,
and whether he knew my Lord.

But, what, me Lord?? Stop my car and talk with him?? Oh, I can't!

Now if the circumstances were different some day,
I would show my concern, talk with him, and share with him.

I was in a department store cafe one day
and was surprised to find that man sitting near, alone.

But, what, now Lord?? Here among all these people?? Well, I just can't!

Of course if it weren't so crowded another day,
I would share with him the bread of life.

I heard about that man's death the other day,
and I ached and was filled with shame.

I wish I could say I know he's with my Lord, but I can't.

We look with dismay at the priest and the Levite in the story about the good Samaritan, but how many times do we pass by those in trouble along the highway of life? Folks don't have to be lying in the ditch along the road to be considered in need of our help! How many of our co-workers, neighbors, and family members just need someone to slow down long enough to show concern for their lives? The story of the good Samaritan was told by Jesus in order to teach a man about loving others. Remember that Christ also said, "...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethern, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40

Needing to be in need

Have you ever been in need? Perhaps you needed a helping hand to do a chore, or a word of instruction or wisdom from someone with experience, or a listening ear from someone who understands. Maybe you've experienced a material or financial need at some time in your life. At one time or another, we all experience the need for help from another person, but most of us find it much easier to offer help than to ask for it. Yet, being in need is a crucial part of our growth in our spiritual lives.

When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, He was teaching them an important lesson in servanthood. The washing was not just a matter of dirty feet, but more a matter of prideful hearts. In order to minister with humility and sensitivity, we must understand what it means to be served... what it feels like to be in need.

Sometimes when we give or help, we become full of more than joy. We become proud or boastful or in awe of our own goodness! The disciples were a bit reluctant to have Jesus wash their feet, because they suddenly became aware of their own unworthiness. They were embarrassed. Uncomfortable. Humbled. They understood what it meant to be ministered to by the Lord.

As we give and help and minister and serve, let us examine our hearts and our attitudes. Are we meeting the needs of others or our own? Are we being sensitive to their feelings? Can we use the opportunity to meet a spiritual need as well? Are we serving as Jesus served?

"For I gave you an example, that you also should do as I did to you." John 13:15