As the Spanish saying goes, “Between what you say and what you do is wide space” This comment came up today as I was talking to a Honduran church leader about how we together can help the church grow so that when those with problems come to us for answers, we won’t turn them away by our actions that speak louder than words.
Living in a part of the world where people struggle each day with what they’re going to eat or how are they’re going to get their kids educated or even how are they going to avoid being a target by people of various gangs or those living a life of violence.
It kind of boils down to what the prophet Micah said to the people of his time that strikingly resembles today, “What does God require of you, but to love mercy, do justice and to walk humbly with God”. Sounds pretty simple to me.
This reminds me of this man who I had the pleasure of meeting some days ago who I realized was doing this very thing with what he had available to him. He was a man full of mercy and it filled me with joy just being near him. He was a just man who like Cornelius in Acts 10 is doing what he can to help others.  His humility was overpowering as I sensed that I was in the presence of Jesus who was living in this man. I was overcome by God’s presence that day. “This is precisely what we need in our church here in Tegucigalpa”, I said to my friend as we sipped on our delicious Honduran coffee. Might you want to start this revolution in your church?
Other verses that jumped out at me on this are:
1. “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing..â€Â I Thessalonians 5:11
2. “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts..â€Â Colossians 3:16
3. “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
4. “So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.” (Note: All Scripture verses taken from NLT)
During difficult times we go through the answer to life’s problems is to seek Divine counsel as well as close personal friends who reflect the love of Jesus that we all seek. May God grant you the joy as you serve others in your church as we serve the church here in Honduras!
Joyfully submitted,
Mateo
