A Life of Service, The Legacy of Jesus Christ

Have you ever contemplated what it really means to be the hands and feet of Jesus? When you pass a person with a sign asking for money at the end of a road, do you turn to look for money until the light turns green, or look the other way in disgust or embarrassment because you are not sure what to do besides judge or be angry? What are your thoughts when you see a family going car to car in the Walmart parking lot, and one of them is a breastfeeding infant? Are they thoughts of love, or do you hurry, get groceries in your car and lock the door?

In February of this year, my wife and I lost our second son, who was 25 years old. The mind and body go places one cannot even imagine, let alone think about what needs to be done. Hearing about his death at 1 p.m., we flew out as quickly as possible, meeting our eldest son as soon as we hit the ground at 10 p.m. in Ontario, Calif. We immediately started receiving messages about a place we could stay and a meal to fill us since we had been flying all afternoon. It was such a whirlwind of chaos in our hearts that none of us could make any decisions. 

We shared our plans for the next day with the unfamiliar woman reaching out to us, and she began to try to meet our needs: could she get us boxes and tape to pack up our son’s belongings, could she purchase and deliver food to us because we were too busy to go and get anything, could she help us pack if we needed her to, etc. Several more people in the area began to contact us; professors from our son’s school, people we didn’t know, local pastors and conference officers. At that moment, I could only think about Jesus and His hands and feet coming to us in every direction to comfort and help. Since then, we have been flooded with wonderful thoughts and love in cards, flowers, food and hugs.

A friend said this weekend that we should never pass up an opportunity to help another; homeless, rich, grieving, spiritually lost and so on. When the Lord calls us to speak to someone or give a hug or a kind word, to pull out a dollar, or say a prayer, don’t take that anointed moment to think bad thoughts or ask if you should or should not, but respond “Here am I, Lord. Take me and use me for Thy kingdom.” 

I have to say, in all honesty, many have turned their faces from my grieving family and said nothing, but I am sure that it is because they do not know how to meet this specific need. 

I didn’t. The Ministry of Healing says, “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’”. Thank you, Church family, for all the love, gifts and shared tears. You have been Christ’s hands and feet to my family. 

I humbly bow before all of you in thanksgiving. Thank you, Father, for this wonderful “family” of Yours.

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By Apple Park

Executive Secretary