Rev. Richard Smith
January 27, 2023
Ephesians 4:11-13
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
You don’t have to read many headlines or hear much on the morning or evening news to know that this is a troubled and hurting world. The needs are at times overwhelming. I’ve mentioned previously the idea of “compassion fatigue.” This is a subtle mindset, as described by social scientists, in which one gets worn out by the suffering, hurts, and devastations which the news brings our way every day. The result of this mindset is that some don’t know what to do and end up doing little. That’s clearly a passive approach to the world’s problems. Jesus followers, however, remember the words of our Lord when he said: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”; “As you’ve done it unto the least of these my brothers. and sisters, you’ve done it unto me.”; “Feed my sheep.”; “Take care of my lambs.” And in addition to Jesus’ words, there, of course, is his self-giving life. This means that while we may not have all the answers, we refuse to just sit by and let the world implode. Each of us can and should prayerfully discern what action, what overture, what words can do something to magnify good in this world.
One of my favorite poems is by Edward Everett Hale. It’s titled, I Am Only One. I am only one, but still I am one I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do
Faithful Christians seek to be active in Jesus’ name to make this world a better place, a kinder place, a more just place, a more loving place; all in faithfulness to his call.
