Serve them as I have served you…

Serve them as I have served you…
–Pastor Russ Atter
October 2, 2009

A few months ago, I met a lady who is 62 years old. She has a small weak frame and a quiet spirit. Her first words to me were: “I don’t know what to do.” I proceeded to ask her questions about her situation. Actually, there were many situations she was dealing with. The combination of these things had cost her to lose hope, not only in God, but in all people in general, including herself. Most of the situations she was dealing with were caused by her own doing and actions, or lack of action.

Her lack of desire to live and be a part of life had caused her to neglect many things. These things included her health, spiritual well being and many financial obligations, primarily her rent. She had recently received a five day eviction notice and was paralyzed by the situation.

I directed her to many agencies in town that could help her. One of the agencies had helped her make an agreement with her landlord to pay her rent and catch up on her back rent. She was pleased. But, due to her lack of motivation, depression, and spiritual oppression she quickly failed to keep her agreement. She received another eviction notice, this time with no way of reconciliation with the landlord.

Again, I directed her to resources which could help her. But once again, due to her lack of motivation and no will to live, she was paralyzed by the situation.

So, I ask myself and God; “What can I do to help a person who has no desire to help themselves?”

God responded; “Pray, Pray, Pray and love her as Christ loves you.”

The woman began to pack her things and look for a new apartment. She tried the best she could, which wasn’t much, due to her broken spirit and lack of will to live…

This brings me to Thursday, October 1, 2009. The woman came to see me, sickly looking as ever. She appeared confused, in pain, and barely content. She again told me; “I do know what I’m going to do.” She then slumped unconsciously on to the couch. I was having difficulty having a coherent conversation with her while she was slipping in and out of consciousness. I called an ambulance…

I met the woman a few hours later at the hospital. She was more alert and able to have a conversation with me. It is not relevant what was medically wrong with her. What I saw was a lady with no spirit. She had no desire to live; she was empty, hollow, and incomplete without Christ. So what does one do in this situation? You listen…

You may not have the answers. You may not even know where to begin or what you can do to help. This is the time to stop, listen, and silently ask God for wisdom. So, I sat and listened…

The woman was originally from another state. She came to Wisconsin with a man who died shortly after moving here.

She was never married, no children and next to no family. She has a sister on one side of the country and one on the other – neither of which she has seen in many years.

After her friend died, she began to withdraw into herself, isolating and hence the sickness of emptiness, hopelessness, and life without God crept in. This happened many years ago and she began to live this pattern of life. No friends, no acquaintances, no connections, no spirit, far away from God, the giver of hope and life.

She continued telling me that she had to be out of her apartment today – October 2!! This is when God spoke to me and said; “Trust me and you will be fishers of men, serve this woman as I have served you.

I began to think of my physical weakness and began telling God; “There is no way for me to help her move her things, her apartment. I don’t know how I can move her things, I don’t have a truck, and besides I have no idea where to put it all.”

So again God spoke; “Trust me, and I will make you fishers of mean, serve her as I have served you.” So I trusted God. I told the frail woman; “Don’t worry I will make sure everything is taken care of.” “Oh God, now what – how, when, where?” He spoke, “Trust me and I will make you fishers of men, and serve her as I have served you.” Again, I trusted God, I told her; “I would take care of everything”… by faith.

I began to talk to her about our Savior. I told her He is the one that will fill her emptiness, loneliness and hopelessness. She began to cry. I prayed…. It appeared that light began to enter her eyes. The nurse entered the room, exclaiming; “What happened, you look so much better?”

She was admitted to the hospital, less concerned about the situation she was in. We prayed again, though she was quiet, the tears ran down her cheek.

I got up this morning and began to think about how God was going to provide. Within a few minutes and a few phone calls, God provided a truck, a storage unit, and other believers with servants’ hearts to move her things. God provided a temporary home for her cat, her only friend and companion – the only reason that up to this point gave her a reason to live.

During the day, while loading her things into the truck, God provided two individuals ---- with servants’ hearts who were not believers. People one would never expect to freely give their time and energy.

I was reminded… “Trust me and I will make you fishers of men; serve them as I have served you.” The other believers that were helping had opportunity to share Christ with these two men. These two men were homeless; no place to live, no money, no food, but they were willing to provide their time. God was able to use us to minister to these men. We were able to share ministry groups and other opportunities to grow. Will we ever see these men again? I don’t know, but seeds were planted.

So the apartment is empty and all of her stuff is in the storage unit. She is resting in the hospital, with a fertile heart, seeds planted and ready to be watered and cared for as they grow.

So I come to now, the end of the day. I am not sure where and what God will do and work from here. But he said; “Trust me, and I will make you fishers of men, serve them as I have served you.”

I do not share this story to glorify myself, but in humility to glorify how God can work even when we don’t know how, or we lack faith and think the mountain is too big to handle. It is clear to me; this is what God meant – “Serve others like I have served you.”