Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Sent: Sun, 4 May 2008 08:08:39 -0500
To: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Subject: Morning Manna May 5-BP: I Jn. 3:15-27; RBTTY: Lk. 23:1-25; I Kings 19-20
May 5 “Practical Christianity”
“But whosoever has this world’s goods and sees his brother has need and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
I John 3:17-18
As someone once said, “They won’t care what we know until they know that we care.”
Practical Christianity.
That’s the essence of the message in today’s Manna and one which we need to hear over and over again. So often we’ve replaced this “mandate for mercy” with doctrinal statements, creeds, rituals, etc., and then wonder why the world views us as an out-of-touch, judgmental organization instead of a loving, caring organism.
There’s no doubt that John’s words are for us all—for who doesn’t have at least some of “this world’s goods”? And, who of us doesn’t “see his brother in need” wherever we go?
We know the answer, don’t we?
Without a doubt.
While it’s true we can’t help everyone, it’s also true that we can help someone. And, while it’s good to drop a few coins in a charity’s pot at Christmastime, much better is the daily demonstrating of our love by helping relieve the suffering of those around us however we can.
That’s why Jesus talked about “feeding the hungry, giving the thirsty something to drink, clothing the needy and visiting the prisoner” (Mt. 25:34-46). That’s also why James said “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). Simply put, salvation and sanctification always express themselves in self-giving service to others. . .which glorifies the Father and draws others to Him.
No doubt that’s why the Apostle John said it’s impossible for “God’s love to dwell (Grk. ‘meno’—‘to abide, continue, remain, stay in place, etc.’) in us if we shut up our bowels of compassion from those in need.” And since the Greek word “splagchnon” is used here for “bowels” and basically means “inward affection, tender mercy, pity or sympathy, etc.”—and is the word from which we get “spleen”—it’s clear John’s talking about more than lip service. Instead, he’s talking about our being so moved to the inward depths of our being that we are moved by mercy to reach out and touch others with Christ’s love.
As someone once said, “Talk is cheap.” And, so it is.
If we are to impact our world for Christ, we MUST put feet to our prayers and show in practical ways what it truly means to be His disciple. Everywhere He went, our Lord touched others in life-changing ways. And, so should we. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to opportunities to do just that today.
Thanks,
Mr. Lynn M. Smith
Department Business Administrator
Department of Economics
204C McElhinney Hall
(713) 743-3802 (office)
(713) 743-3798 (fax)
LSmith20@central.uh.edu (email)
http://www.class.uh.edu/econ/ (department website)
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