I Want To 'CARE FOR YOU'

Chapter 1 (the first 734 words) Caring for Your Neighbor The Good Samaritan Paul called us to “fan into flame the gift of God which is in us” (2 Timothy 1:6a NIV). For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV) God has made a way for humanity to persevere in this world we live in. In His grace, He has given us the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus, to come unto Him and remain in Him, his Son Jesus. We have been given the gift of grace to become a child of His. The free gift God sent to us is his Son Jesus, having faith that he is our Savior and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead. Jesus makes us alive with power that now lives in us and through us. I have no regrets for having received God’s gift of grace, His Son into my life. We have the gift of power, love, and self-discipline that becomes stronger with every action taken through faith to care for the needy and the poor, the widows, and orphans. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, … (2 Timothy 1:8-9a NASB) God has opened heaven’s door to come down to earth that we may experience Him and heaven’s way of life. His grace fills our cup, tamped down and overflowing with His love, goodness, and kindness. We each have a gift, and sometimes multiple gifts, that flows through us to share the Good News. Fear of man is not a reason or an excuse for not sharing our gift of God’s love. When we use our gift(s), this shows our love for God and love for others to realize He cares for them, too. Jesus’ gift is, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV) Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17 NIV) Example of gifted people in the Bible are: o John the Baptist’s gift was to introduce Jesus to the world so people would know Him when He appeared. o Of the disciples, one of their many gifts was to continue Jesus’s ministry to all the nations. He sent them out with the authority and power to teach and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. o Mary’s and Elizabeth’s gifts were children. o Mary’s gift was the mother of the Son of God, who came that we may have eternal life. o Elizabeth’s gift was the mother of John the Baptist, who introduced Jesus to the world. o Abraham was found faithful and lived a righteous life who was highly favored with an enormous family—as many as the stars in the sky and grains of sand on the beach. o Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, and many more prophets in the Old Testament were blessed with God’s gift of prophecy and word of knowledge. o Paul was blessed with the gifts of apostleship and teaching bringing the Good News of Jesus to the Gentiles. o And then we have the New Testament lives of people who received the gift of an apostle, prophet, minister, teacher, healer, administrator, encourager. Today, people who put their faith into action bless others using these same gifts. They are the same gifts and power source that worked in and through Jesus that work in us. Have you opened your gifts that God has placed under the tree for you? Are there gifts that you have not unwrapped? Have you opened your gifts only to have used some of them? Are they sitting on a shelf collecting dust?