FROM DEATH TO LIFE
Melissa has worked in a cancer center for more than twenty years. She has always been a kind, thoughtful person. Her smile is infectious. She causes every cancer patient who comes under her care to feel better about their struggles. It would be impossible to count the number of people who lost their battle with cancer who have been lovingly cared for by Melissa.
We have some ladies in our congregation who volunteer at the cancer center and who have had the privilege of working closely with Melissa. She has cared for numerous other members of the Lewisville church.
She cared for a number of our members who have passed from this life to the next. All of our members who have been under Melissa’s care have been wonderful examples to her.
Some time ago, at the invitation of some of our members she started visiting our worship assemblies on Sunday morning. Someone asked her if she would study the Bible with her. Her response was that she didn’t want to be rushed our pressured.
A few weeks ago one of our members just handed her a copy of a simple self-study guide that was written by one of our wonderful ladies for a deaf friend. Melissa started studying and about a week later she told the sister who had given her the study guide she was ready to be baptized.
This wonderful lady who has been such a great comfort to many who have passed from this life to the next is now our sister. This one who has assisted others in passing from physical life to physical death has now passed from spiritual death to spiritual life.
We praise God for her decision and for her new life. I am convinced that the children of God who have come under her care have helped her, just as she has helped them. There are several lessons that we as Christians can learn from this wonderful event.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PEOPLE IN OUR LIFE. Building relationships is not easy. The people we work with, go to school with, and live in neighborhoods with are all just as busy as we are.
It takes a great deal of time and effort in our fast-paced world to get to know people. We need to work to learn names, to learn about family situations, to get to know the people in our life. Building friendships is one of the very best ways to be able to reach people with the glorious Gospel of Jesus.
INVITE PEOPLE WE KNOW TO JOIN US WHEN WE WORSHIP. At first it may seem odd and strange to invite people we don’t know well to worship with us. However, the more we do that the easier it will become.
When we are kind to the people we meet it will be easier to invite them to worship with us. A simple invitation may be the beginning of leading someone to Jesus. Don’t quit the first time you are told no, keep inviting.
TALK ABOUT JESUS AND HIS CHURCH IN POSITVIVE WAYS. In our conversations we need to let people know that we are Christians. We can talk about some event or activity that is happening in our home church. We can talk about our church friends; we can talk about what we are studying in Bible class, or about a current sermon series.
We should always speak in such a way that the people around us will know we are Christians. The Apostle Paul said, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt…” (Colossians 4:6) Paul also told us that we should only speak words that are edifying (Ephesians 4:29).
LIVE EVERY DAY IN A WAY THAT HONORS AND GLORIFIES GOD. Paul admonishes us with these words, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:17) It is easier to live a committed Christian life when everything seems to be going right in life.
The real test of our honoring God is when life comes undone. When we lose someone dear to us, when we learn we have contacted cancer, when we have lost our job, when our children are not living as they should, when we are struggling in our marriage, when we are going through other difficulties, do we live lives that glorify God during these times?
People are watching us to see how we live. They want to know how we handle adversity and how we deal with life. Paul said that our lives are like a letter, written on the hearts of others (2 Corinthians 3:2).
There are so many people just like Melissa who need to learn how to pass from death to life. We have opportunities every day to show people in our life how they can become children of God. By the way, Melissa has handed that study guide to her husband!!
Who will we influence today? Who can we invite to worship? Who will we attempt to reach for Jesus today?
Dear Father, help us to realize how important it is for us to live for You every day. Help us to be aware of the people around us. Help us, dear God to face adversity with grace and commitment. Help us to tell others about Jesus and His Church. Help us to invite our friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors to worship with us. Help us to understand that we can help lead others from death to life. Thank You Father, for all that you do for us every day. In Jesus Name, Amen.