Part of the power of the Kingdom of God is that it touches each one who calls on the precious name of Jesus Christ without partiality. Mighty God cares for the smallest, most damaged, insignificant person at any place and time as much as he does the seemingly greatest of people. He reaches into situations that seem most unlikely or unimportant. Once the Spirit of God is inside the heart of a man, his changes begin to cause us to care the same way. We grow to understand Kingdom values, and his life in us begins to affect others. That love often does the small things that people don’t even see, unless they are looking for them. I had a poignant reminder.
We were in the Philippines on a mission trip with our friends. One Sunday morning we were trying to get ready to go to the Sunday service. My wife, Linda, was not doing very well physically. She was unsteady and not feeling well. Her hands were shaking. We were already late, and she was trying to fix her nails, which had gotten cracked and needed a little attention. It was not something I could address without making the situation worse, so I wondered how we were going to solve the problem. In walked Jet (her nickname), who had been in the service for awhile but missed my wife’s presence. She made here way back to our room and saw the situation, sat right down, and began to help Linda. It took some time. After everything was fixed, she stayed with us as we slowly made our way to the church.
Jet did not have to come and help. She does not “do” her nails. She was involved in the service. But that did not matter as much as caring for Linda.
It was a small thing. Or was it? God is after each of us to love each other deeply, to care for the small things, to do the small things, and it is because he did the small things. He healed a fever for a relative of a disciple, took the time to talk to the man delivered of a legion of demons, went out of his way to talk to the doubting Thomas, and dared talk to a woman of no respect at a well in the heat of the day. That is what God does. That is what he does in and through us if we let him.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
If you are reading this and don’t know Jesus Christ, I can assure you that when you call on him, he will answer. He will save you from your sins, and begin to change you to care in ways you never thought possible…even the small things, like the story illustrates.
