A couple weeks
ago, a basketball player named Kevin Ware broke his leg while playing in the
NCAA tournament. The break was
severe and happened in front of a national television audience. Onlookers were shocked by the severity
of the injury. The crowd gasped,
referees looked away, and teammates cried. It was a sad and gruesome turn of events.
One
of Ware’s teammates responded differently. Luke Hancock made his way to Ware, knelt on the floor, took
Ware’s hand, told him it would be ok, and then prayed: “Lord, watch over us and let Kevin be OK during this tough
time." The media broadcast
the touching turn of events.
We’ve
seen the Christian church do this a thousand times. Things go terribly wrong. While everyone turns away from the tragedy, church folks
rush toward it. I know countless
foreign missionaries, urban clinics, and church based recovery programs
behaving just like Luke Hancock.
People get hurt, the church takes their hand, comforts them, and prays
for them.
The
Christian church has been doing this a long time. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus sends out His disciples to do
ministry, saying, “Heal the sick
who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.” Jesus sends His people to the hurting,
to comfort the afflicted, and assure them of God’s presence. From the beginning, the church has been
obedient to Jesus’ call.
As
you go through the coming week, be on the look out for opportunities to be the
church like Luke Hancock is the church.
Give generously to a ministry in need. Stop to talk a person who is living on the streets. Take time to visit that friend who is
in the hospital. Whether it be in
your neighborhood or at center court of the NCAA tournament, fulfill the
mission that Jesus has given His church.
Be the church.
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