On August 15th we completed the funeral service for Kevin Cleaveley. Kevin was a new believer who through his illness came to the end of himself and surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ with his life. God saw fit to take him home to be with Himself even though we looked for healing and continued life here on earth. Through the months I have watched family and church family demonstrate the reading to which I draw your attention to today.
In Romans 12:15 we read, “rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” When Kevin accepted the free gift of salvation we rejoiced. Veronica, his wife was his greatest cheerleader; she, more than any other person helped him grow, reading scripture to him daily, several times each day. Verse 6 of the same chapter lists the gifts. We as a body are to use them for the glory of God. Verse 4 reminds us that we don’t all have the same gifts so we need to use the gift that God has given to us to use. I have been so touched by the many who have come alongside this family to bless them in various ways.
Verse 8 reminds us to be encouragers....we can do this to the family and also to the front line people who minister to them directly. Verse 12 tells us to be faithful in prayer. I know that our church family have been praying diligently. God has moved and continues to do so.
Read the entire chapter through several times to see what God is saying to you. We are all in this together.
Let me take you to the beginning of the chapter before I close. After we, in verse 1, offer our bodies to the Lord and His use, then apply verse 2,...and give Him control of our mind. When He has control then we “will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” As we do His will others will see Christ in us and that’s the beginning of you as an evangelist for the gospel’s sake.
God bless you