Matthew
8:14-17 And
when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a
fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to
serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons,
and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was
to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and
bore our diseases.”
God is at work here among us, in us and through us.
A week does not go by that someone says a prayer is answered. The client least
likely to succeed in the program confesses faith in Jesus Christ to a staff
person. In a matter of days we see the transformation occurring. When the food
pantry shelves are empty the evening of a busy day, a truck pulls in the next
morning with food to fill them up again. God is good, all the time.
When someone enters the Mission they enter into the
Light, Christ Jesus. God is at work in them. They enter a place where truth and
grace can be freely received. The journey they have made brings them to our
door, a journey only God could have orchestrated, so says the new client.
When they enter the Mission with their sin baggage,
we are able to reach out to carry them to Christ. Galatians 5 teaches us to "carry
each other's burdens". Our role is to walk with them, not to judge, not to
feel superior, and not to take their responsibility. Goal is to help restore
them gently. No man can heal a broken heart. I cannot purge him of his
addiction. You cannot give him enough knowledge to ensure him a future. Only
Jesus can accomplish the impossible.
We bring Jesus
Christ, grace and truth, to the work of reconciling people to God. The Holy
Spirit is present to teach the truth, open the heart and transform the mind. Jesus
reverses the flow of influence between clean and unclean, and empowers us to do
the same. Jesus came to turn us into instruments of His grace, mercy and love.
We are convinced of these things.