Are we a spectator or a participator?

Published 4:12 pm Wednesday, August 9, 2017

We do not have to look very far to find someone that needs a miracle.

There are lots of people who are suffering some type of crisis with everything from health problems, their children, and grieving over a loss, to finances, marriage issues and addictions.

When we see and hear about difficulties, we become sympathetic, but how often do we consider that God may have brought these individuals to our attention so that we can not only pray but to intervene and help meet their needs?

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Instead of just discussing the situation and having pity, maybe we are their miracle and the answer to their prayers. We can remain the spectator like always or with God’s power we can become a participator – an agent of change!

Remember the times you have been discouraged or in trouble and you cried out for God to please send somebody to help? If someone responded, you knew they were a Godsend, right?

If no one came, we assumed someone was called upon but were too busy or maybe they just did not want to take the time or money to become involved. I believe our reactions toward others reveal what is really important than we care to think about.

For those who are serious about becoming a catalyst for Christ, we can learn how to listen for His voice and grow in our awareness of His directions. He may be guiding and preparing us to present a Bible scripture with a friend at work or maybe to share our heart in a letter to a loved one that we are concerned about.

There are so many opportunities all around us where we could bring encouragement. I know there are times in my life where I could have used someone’s kindness. It feels good to know that someone cares enough to make an intentional effort to bless us as we all want to feel loved and respected.

There is a passage in Galatians chapter six that talks about our deeds being like seeds, and that we all reap according to what we sow. Applying this spiritual principle to our life, we can see how important it is to reach out to others in the same way we would like them to care about us. If you need a miracle, become someone’s miracle, if you desire to have more friends, go out of your way to be friendly, if you want to be loved, learn how to love.

God can connect us but our responsibility is to make ourselves available. Jesus told a parable in Luke chapter ten about a man who was attacked by thieves and was left beside the road nearly dead. Two different men passed by (one of them a minister) and yet both ignored him. Then a Samaritan man found him and literally saved his life. The good Samaritan became the wounded man’s miracle and presents the question that is worthy of consideration: are we the one who passes by or the one who becomes involved? 

Dr. Holland lives in Central Kentucky where he is a Christian minister and author of, “A lifestyle of Worship.” Learn more at billyhollandministries.com.