Assists!

We put no stumbling block in any one’s path, so our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way; in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings imprisonments or riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger. 2 Corinthians 6:3-5

March Madness is upon us and basketball enthusiasts are filling their weekends with the respective tournaments. This past weekend, the quest for the best team in basketball began in earnest with sixty four teams, and it will be narrowed down after each game until we reach the Final Four.

Just as in every sport, there are players who seem to always be in the limelight, but it certainly takes the entire team in order to win games and advance to the next level. The point guard is usually the most important member of the team because they handle the ball on almost every play. They are an extension of the coach on the court as they direct the team and communicate the plays. Point guards are good shooters, but they are also good at getting the ball to others for the score. A team can have the best shooters, but unless they can get the ball in for the shot, that is inconsequential.

The game is won or lost by teammates who will get the ball to the best shooter, and assist in the score. In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way which leads to a score.

Faith is like that as we use it to assist God. Faith on our part means that we are willing to come to the aid of our Lord in order to help Him carry out His plans. For example, the ark of the covenant was equipped with poles so the priests could raise it to their shoulders. Even the ark of God didn’t move itself but was carried. When God is our architect, we become the bricklayers and the laborers. It’s our faith that assists God.

I once heard a minister say, “If you were on trial for your faith, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Augustine said, “Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone.” We can claim we have faith all day long, but there should be some evidence to prove it. There should be some evidence of assisting God in our lives.

The question is “How can we assist God during our time here on earth?” He has chosen each one of us to serve and assist in many difference ways. God could send angels to carry out His work, but He wants ordinary people to minister to human kind. If we use the tools He has provided to each of us, we will assist Him in building His kingdom.

There are many ways we can assist Him, but there are a few with which I can identify. The first is shepherding. Years ago, our church had the Stephen Ministry shepherding program. Many of us took the course, learned ways to help those in need, and went out to meet with and try to shepherd those with specific needs. One of the most important lessons I learned personally, is that when shepherding people, it’s not for us to get pulled into the depths of despair with them but rather to give them a hand up and out of it.

Hospitality is a way to assist God. It’s important that people, no matter their station in life, feel welcome and accepted when we encounter them in this life. No one deserves public ridicule, and all Christians should be sensitive to the opinions of others.

Discernment is important in our quest to assist God. We all need the wisdom to recognize truth from untruth by correctly evaluating whether or not the behavior or information we see or hear is Godly.

Finally, mercy is a quality which is absolutely necessary in assisting God. Mercy is a defining trait of those who have a great sensitivity for those who are suffering. It manifests itself in offering compassion, forgiveness, and encouragement, and reaching out in love to those in need even when it’s in one’s power to punish or harm. One has only to see the pictures and stories of the people in the Ukraine to know that feeling.

Each one of us probably has a story of some one or some group that has assisted us in this life whether by an example set for us, an encouraging or kind word spoken when it was needed, a leader who assisted us in discerning truth from lies, or a quality of mercy which was instilled in us. Thank God for all the people who assist God daily by thought, word and deed.

In basketball as in life, we have those who win the game by their assists. My prayer is that we try every day to win the game for our Lord by assisting Him in this world.

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