It looks like Spring has finally arrived.
No more forecasted freezes and a whole lot of warm sunshine. It’s that time of year when we all come out of our hibernation mentality and begin to do things outdoors.
Everyone is mowing and planting and fishing. What a wonderful time of year.
With this season often comes new energy and the need to get busy. And there are a lot of ways to harness that energy for good. So, it may be a good time to pause and think about the best ways to use this renewed motivation.
In the book of James 1:27 he tells us “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.” For James, our faith has one of its most pure outworkings when we help others, especially those in positions of struggle.
Could we spare some of our energy and time to help someone that could use a hand? When we think of the command of Jesus to love your neighbor as yourself, we have to know that spring is a great time to begin looking for ways to love them.
When we see the neighbors lawn getting out of control we could gripe and complain or we could offer to lend a hand or a mower. When we drive by the home that could really use a fresh coat of paint we could wag our heads as we drive by or we could offer to help put on that new paint.
Spring is the time to be outdoors and if we know a widow/widower who is homebound and struggles to get outside it is a perfect opportunity to offer to help them get some sunshine.
How many ways are there to express our faith that reflects the love of God to others? More than we care to admit.
This could be a spring of new hope for many if we open our eyes and consider all that we could do to love others and minister to their needs.
These kinds of activities build communities up and make them better for everyone. So, let’s get out there and meet our neighbors and listen for opportunities to exercise our faith and make it practical. It will do us all good, and you might even find it to be a bit addictive.
Pastor Rich Cummings was called to Emmanuel Baptist Church in August 2022 and he has been a pastor since 2006. He has an MDiv from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He may be reached at rich@ebccassville.
com.
