Accept the Invitation
Read: Romans 12:8-21
As United Methodists, we know that the grace of salvation is given freely through Christ
Simply by the asking. But what then? How do we as Christians truly fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit? Paul tells us the answer in Romans Chapter 12, verses 11-13. “ Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in Hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer and most importantly contribute to the needs of others, extend hospitality to strangers.” In other words, faith comes from work. We are filled with the Holy Spirit through our works. Our works are not measured in numbers, but by the spirit in our heart when we offer them.
During our visit to the Holy Land, I was struck by the relentless works of faith by those involved in missionary projects such as Sabeel which is supported by our Global Methodist Ministry, often times the face of opposition, and even persecution.
One such woman was Tina Whitehead. I meant Tina at Bethlehem Bible College. Also sup-ported by our Global Ministry, Bethlehem Bible College serves those who have heard the calling to teach, preach or counsel the Word of God Some of us may not be aware, but Bethlehem Bible College is in the West Bank and 10% of those living in the West Bank are Christians. I visited the West Bank four times during my visit to the Holy Land, twice on my own. Each time, I was greeted with open arms, with the voices of strangers saying, “welcome” or “you are our first guest in two weeks, I am so glad you are here.” The pain, the hurt, the misunderstanding that sounded in their voices, that was seen on their faces, and that was felt from their hearts was real. This pain, this hurt from families being divided, one from another, their homes from their land, their children from their schools is what Tina was trying to express to us during one of our evening hotel lectures.
What was so special about her faith, her works? She had visited Sabeel and Bethlehem Bible College the year before, a housewife from PA, she saw people like you and I trying to hold on to hope against all odds, she saw businesses closing, services being withheld and fellow Christians responding with Exodus from the very town of our Saviors Birth. She, in the face of adversity, decided to stay, to be that voice, that heart, that soul, that body who represented the hope and faith that so many are holding dear. Even more special was, on this night, for the very first time, standing nervously before us, she had come to witness to a crowd of her own believers about the turmoil and misunderstanding surrounding the West Bank. She wasn’t sure how we would react, she wasn’t sure how we would respond, but nonetheless she persevered, patience abounding, answering each question in detail, mak-ing sure we understood, making sure we believed.
I have heard many of my fellow Christians say, I have been a Christian all my life, but I have never felt the Holy Spirit. My question to you today, is what have you done to fill your heart with Christ’s Holy Spirit? Tomorrow when you see a piece of paper on the ground, pick it up and throw it away, the next day when you see a child or an elderly person who needs your time, spend it with them, and next weekend when you see a homeless man standing in front of Wendy’s, offer him the food in your hand, and in Jan. 2009, accept this invitation to make your very own pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Thus, you too can truly be filled with the Holy Spirit and spread the Good News of Christ.
Donna Sperry
No comments:
Post a Comment