Landmark of Faith #5 – The Hands

I invite you to think about the hands of others in your life and ways they have served you. Maybe similar to the following:

• A warm meal prepared and given during a time of immense stress.
• A thoughtful card of encouragement in a time of grief.
• A helping hand with a home project to help each the stress on a family.
• A cozy bed given for rest when there’s no place to go.
• A load of laundry completed for an overwhelmed mom.

The possibilities are endless. Caring comes in many forms and can be demonstrated in some common, uncomplicated ways.  Caring for others usually doesn’t fail to happen because of a lack of ideas. It’s not a lack of opportunity.

There’s a story involving Jesus and an expert of the law that Luke describes in chapter 10 of his book and it brings to light one of our challenges with caring.  Let’s take a look.

Hands for God’s Purposes (commitment to love God)

Luke 10:25-29 – ²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” ²⁷ He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” ²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

“And who is my neighbor?”

There it is. That’s one of the challenges of caring. We, like the expert of the law, want to know who we have to love…to care for. He does us a favor because he highlights part of the problem. We ask the wrong question when we ask who.

Hands devoted to caring is the commitment to and practice of uniquely using our spiritual gifts and natural talents to tangibly love others at the point of their need.

The landmark of faith known as they hands is not about the “who” we care for.  It’s about the “why” we show care. When we ask “who”, we reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of caring. The truth about caring is that it is first a commitment to the belief that God has cared for us and given us the ability to care for others. We walk in faith to care for others and trust that God will use it for their good and for His glory.

Your hands can do great good when committed to God!

Pastor Dan

Here’s a few reminders and details for this week from our Mid-week Video Update:

1. We will be posting a Mid-week Video Update each Wednesday on the website for the latest news and information in this season.
2. Our Value of Generous Living
   1. Many are showing care to others with cards, calls, errands, and at least two in our congregation are making hundreds of cloth masks. Woohoo, way to go!
   2. We thank you for your faithful giving each week to the ongoing expenses.
   3. If you have needs, we want to know about them, so we can provide help.  We have a Benevolence fund set up to provide for those at ECC. Please call the church office for assistance.
3. Our Value of Community Engagement
   1. Some have asked how they can help others in the community. We’d like to highlight the ministry of “The Common Good” (Preble Co. Food Bank)
      1. Monetary Donations
      2. Needs for food kits:
         oatmeal
         cereal
         peanut butter
         mac & cheese
         instant/boxed potatoes
         ravioli
         spaghetti
         spaghetti sauce
         canned vegetables
         canned fruit
         jello cups
         pudding cups
         Other items:
         shampoo
         toothpaste
         dish soap
         hand soap
4.  Phasing In Of Gatherings 
   1. Staff and Elders are continuing to pray and discuss the timing and method of our future gatherings. There are many factors involved including Government Guidelines, facility cleaning, and comfort level of people. Thank you for filling out the survey to help us assess. We will keep you updated.
   2. Specifics:
      1. Worship Services online at least for the next two weeks.
      2. The Church building will open on May 4th during office hours for walk-in traffic.
      3. Please call the church office at 456-5507 with any questions.