Small Things With Great Love

Mother Teresa once said, "Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love."  In a previous post I wrote that true Christianity is messy. It's about doing instead of just saying.  I'm a writer so I like to think of it this way: true Christianity is a verb, not a noun.

True Christianity requires action

Verbs are action words.  They explain what we do, not what we are.  Nouns are passive.  They are labels, describing who we are.  This distinction might seem unimportant, but it's not.  If Christianity is a noun, then our obligation to God and each other stops at the church pew.  We can express our faith by warming a church pew.  We don't need to lift a finger if Christianity is a noun.

On the contrary, if Christianity is a verb we must to do more than sit in church on Sunday.  Verb Christianity compels us to act.  To help those in distress.  To feed the hungry, cloth the naked, visit the lonely, house the homeless.  To fill a need when we see a need.

James wrote: "So you see, faith by itself isn't enough.  Unless It produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."  (James 2:17)  And then there's this in James chapter one: "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress..." (James 1:27)

But, you say, there are So Many needs.  So many widows.  So many orphans.

It's overwhelming.  But that doesn't mean we bury our heads.  It means we get to work and do what we can. 

Simon the Cyrenian carried Jesus's cross for Him. 

For me and my family that means adoption.  It wasn't planned.  It's not like Steve (hubby) and I read James 1:27 and declared, "We Shall Adopt!!"  No.  In fact, that scripture took on special meaning to us only after we had completed our first adoption.

For us, walking out our faith happened this way: We had a need--children.  Unbeknownst to us at the time, several children in China had a need--a family.  God used our need to meet someone else's need.  I love that!

Now does adopting 5 kids change the world?  No.  But it certainly changed our lives and our children's lives.  In Mother Teresa's words, it was a small thing done with great love.

What are--or even better--have been your needs?  Have you been hungry?  Feed someone who is hungry now.  Have you been lonely?  Comfort someone who is lonely now.  Have you been sick?  Visit someone who is sick now.  (As a veteran of several long hospital stays, I assure you visits are a welcome distraction.) Have you been homeless?  Offer someone shelter now.  

These things won't change the world.  But changing the entire world isn't our job.  Our job is to mirror Christ to those around us.  And Christ did not sit back and watch the world pass by.  Christ acted.  He was moved to compassion and healed the sick.  He fed the hungry.  He comforted the mourners.  If we are to emulate Him, we must do the same.

Jesus didn't only tell people about God.  He showed them God's mercy.  He showed them God's love. He didn't stay at home, safe among like-minded people.  Instead He went out into the world and acted.  Most people followed Jesus because of what He did, not what he said.  Before the cross, He didn't change the entire world in a moment; instead, He changed it one person at a time.  Small things done with great love.  (He did change the entire world in a moment on the cross, but that's another post!)

Walking out our faith doesn't require big dramatic gestures.  Instead, our faith is shown in small, daily acts of love.  Can I encourage you to take that first step?  It will probably be uncomfortable and scary, but I promise you it will be worth it!