We wanted to check in with you and let you know we love you and are praying for you.
These are challenging times as we traverse a path we’ve never traveled, but we are not losing sight that we have so much to be thankful for—the Lord, the ministry, and our family of God.
What strikes a lot of people about our family is the ease of love and genuine kindness. The Elder and Sister Jean built this church on love by their example in loving and caring for the congregation God gave them. That same love is here today, and Sister Lynn Phillips is elaborating on it.
When things get turned upside down and are out of our control, remember God will meet us right where we are and help us get through this together.
Share this with a friend who’s thinking, “How amazing is that?!”
#lovingourneighbor #untilyouveknowntheloveofGod #ifoundapeoplewhocare
By Sister Lynn Phillips
How wonderful it is to bring a heart-warming story to our readers during this time of school and business closures, social distancing, and the uncertainty of the economy, health and well-being of all Americans over the next few months. We believe God will take care of his people and this issue focuses on the heroes in our lives, especially those in the Body of Christ that put their love of Christ into action for the benefit of others in their time of great need.
In Matthew 22:37 and 39, Jesus gives us the two great commandments:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they mind.” -Matthew 22:37
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” -Matthew 22:39
In this context, we know that our neighbor is our brother or sister in the Lord, and we are to demonstrate our love through actions and good deeds as if we were doing it for ourselves. The following examples are true stories of how the People of God demonstrate what it means to love your neighbor.
There is so much more to share that the internet couldn’t hold it all, but this author can say with absolute certainty, I have experienced (received) it all over the 35 years I’ve been attending The Church at Onslow. I’ve been both on the giving end as well as on the receiving end, most recently having had major surgery requiring two months of recovery, and I never cease to be amazed by the graciousness of the People of God! The delicious meals, frequent help cleaning and doing laundry, free use of handicap accessories needed, frequent transportation to doctor and physical therapy appointments, and the phone calls, texts, and visits to keep me encouraged. A precious brother and sister even installed handrails in my home to help me get around as I was learning to walk all over again! My husband and family really outdid themselves in caring for me 24×7 post-surgery for weeks (no easy feat LOL).
And, last but certainly not least, the plethora of Get-Well cards received, each different in its verbiage and containing precious ‘thoughts,’ which really helped my family during a time of great need. Elder LaFleur taught us that flowers, while beautiful, last only a few days, whereas putting ‘thoughts’ into a card helps someone in their greatest time of need. When you are down and out of work, those cards and other gracious acts given in love by the People of God are what truly help carry you through.
For all the gracious People of God, Jesus said it best in Matthew 25:34-40:
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink. I was a stranger and ye took me in. Naked, and ye clothed me. I was sick, and ye visited me. I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” -Matthew 25:34-36
“Then shall the righteous answer him saying, “Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?” -Matthew 25:37-39
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” -Matthew 25:40
Most importantly, this graciousness is a learned trait and denotes a real earmark of the Body of Christ. The love of Jesus must first be taught by a five-fold ministry for the People of God to grow in understanding of what it truly means to love thy neighbor as thyself. We also must be taught how to get that love to one another and do it appropriately, righteously, and timely as if unto the Lord. It is with a thankful heart that we recognize the righteous ministry we have and their ability to faithfully and consistently teach us the truth of the Word of God and what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and how to love thy neighbor as thyself.
How well said my precious sister. Our family has been taught that “washing feet” may be cooking, or cleaning, or babysitting, being available whatever the need. We stand together on a solid foundation built on “THE ROCK” by a God called ministry. What a BLESSING it is to be a part of HIS church. Nowhere else could I find a better refuge – than I found in the Body of Christ! We are better together.
We really don’t always know how good we have it until we do have a time of need. The scriptures teach not only how we should conduct ourselves, but how to treat others.
Matthew 25:40 clearly lets us know who we are doing these acts of kindness to. As a saint we receive the benefits of these acts and that pleases the Lord. We need to always remember to reciprocate these acts of kindness.
You can never go wrong doing the right thing.