Several years ago, a thought entered my mind that I couldn't shake for several weeks: What God lays on your heart, pick up with your hands. Set that aside for a minute.
My husband turned to me one evening this week and asked if I had heard of a certain person, a Christian celebrity. Eek, Christian celebrity. I don't like writing that, but I don't have a better description. I told my husband that I had heard of this particular person, to which he responded, "I guess he doesn't believe in God anymore."
I asked him why, and he told me that he had read that the celebrity couldn't understand why an all loving God would allow bad things to happen, or something along those lines. The conversation was pretty matter of fact. In part because my husband hadn't heard of the person, and I think in part because it seems to be happening more frequently these days.
From the very beginning we were meant to play a part in God's story. Genesis 2:15 (NASB) says, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it."
I asked him why, and he told me that he had read that the celebrity couldn't understand why an all loving God would allow bad things to happen, or something along those lines. The conversation was pretty matter of fact. In part because my husband hadn't heard of the person, and I think in part because it seems to be happening more frequently these days.
Then my brain started turning. To me, more concerning than a God who would allow bad things to happen are the 2 billion Christians who would allow those same things to happen.
From the very beginning we were meant to play a part in God's story. Genesis 2:15 (NASB) says, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it."
As we continue reading through scripture, we come to the story of God in Nehemiah's time. Leroy Eims shares great insight about Nehemiah's faith in his book Prayer: More Than Words. He points out that, in addition to prayer, we must do our part. Or, as we read in Nehemiah 4:9 (NASB), "but we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night." They prayed for God to do His part, and then they did their part.
God's word continues to tell the same story in Acts 2:42-45 (NASB) when we read that, again, the believer prayed and took care of each other:
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
Is your heart breaking for the millions of people who don't have access to clean water? Do you think we we should do something to end homelessness? Are you distraught by the spread of HIV/AIDS? Do you cry when you think about orphans? God has called you to be like Adam, or Nehemiah, or the believers of Acts 2. Turn your concerns over to God, and then turn your attention to problem. What God lays on your heart, pick up with your hands.
