Love redeems us in a two-fold manner- salvation and healing. Those who are maturing in their Love walk will ultimately embrace both aspects of this ministry toward others. After all, what is the point of becoming a mature Son or Daughter if we don’t do as Jesus did? Aren’t we suppose to follow in His footsteps and minster in the same manner? Isn’t this the focus of the Great Commission, or are we to simply become “experts” in the various nuances of Scripture? Is our study of advanced topics sacrificing our focus on ministering Love to those in need? We are urged by THE SPIRIT in James chapter 1:
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Let us not be deceived by becoming a hearer only for a hearer’s heart grows cold and becomes forgetful of the Great Commission. A hearer begins to think that by gaining additional knowledge, he will be deemed a mature Son. However, a truly mature Son will spread the Gospel in accordance with the Great Commission. Jesus spent 3 1/2 years preaching salvation and healing the sick who were oppressed by the devil. He established what it means to be a mature Son or Daughter by His example of doing. Jesus provided us a clear example of Sonship so that there would be no question of what it means to be mature in Christ. He expressed FATHER’S Love toward the ungodly by healing both the soul and the body. In Matthew chapter 9, Jesus expressed this Truth:
1 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.
2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
7 And he arose and departed to his house.
8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
FATHER gave power to bring forth salvation and healing to His Son. Jesus expressed the Truth that salvation and physical healing go hand in hand, the power to bring forth healing is no different than the power to save a soul. He went to the cross for both acts of Love.
Let us direct our time and attention to becoming mature in both aspects of the Great Commission. While men are becoming experts in the “acts” of GOD, let us pursue HIS ways and take on the responsibility of becoming mature so that we can and will fulfill the Great Commission. There is no benefit to being a hearer only so let us be a doer of The Word. Let us do what Jesus commanded of His disciples and let us be known as His followers by ministering two-fold redemption to those in need. At some point we will be able to say with confidence, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? “