The Need for Assistance

In today’s reading, the Twelve realize that they cannot do the work they were called to do without help. The widows were being neglected and this was pointed out to them. So, they called together the community of the disciples and told them, “Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task.” (Act 6:3) Once the men were chosen, “they presented these men to the Apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly.” (Acts 6:6-7) Stephen was one of the men chosen because he was “filled with faith and the Holy Spirit.” Stephen became the first martyr of the Church.

As Christians, we are called to do the same work as these men. It is not just up to the priests and leaders of the Church to be Christ to the world. The gospel needs to be spread to the ends of the earth. This work was started by Jesus and must continue through us. Jesus told the disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” (Matthew 9:37) Because the laborers are few, the harvest will not reap the crop that God fully intended it to reap. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’” Our reply needs to be the same as Isaiah’s when he heard these words, “Here I am, send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)

The nature of good news is to share it with others. How can we claim to possess the gospel in our hearts yet not share it with others? Are we afraid we will offend others or is it because we want to respect their beliefs? There are so many who don’t believe in anything, there are so many lost souls. We can’t be complacent Christians. We are here to continue the work that Christ started, until He comes again. We may feel that we are not equipped, but we are. Jesus gave us the Advocate so that we would be equipped to spread the gospel. “When the Lord returns to see what we have been doing with our lives, will we dig up our coin of salvation and present it to Him without profit or interest? Even more fearful, will Jesus take our coin and give it to another?”  ~ Eli Brayley

Heavenly Father, help me to have the same heart as Isaiah and enthusiastically cry, “Here I am, send me!” There are so many lost souls. Fill my heart with the same compassion as your Son. Give me the courage to reach out to those most in need and be your voice, your hands and your feet. Amen.