By: Rev. J. Loren Russell, BA, MDiv.
Acts 9:5-6 (NKJV)
“And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
There are three predominant reasons that I do what I do;
1. I felt compelled to give my life to help other people to have better lives and an eternity of happiness.
2. I had to make some personal choices in life if I was going to live, stay out of jail, and not do something that would make anybody feel as badly as I did!
3. I genuinely care about people.
There’s always a story that goes behind any statement, so let me share my story. When I was 14 years old, my mother literally fell dead from an embolism. Five years later, my father lost his battle with cancer. My siblings each had their own situations and circumstances during these very challenging times. I decided to live my life making the lives of others better, and I was going to start with my siblings, those who were hurting as badly as I was.
So began my quest to make the world a better place, one person at a time. When I accepted a position as a life insurance sales person, I thought I could help others to be better prepared than my family was when death invaded my home. (I also thought I could make a lot of money in the process.) Sandwiched somewhere in the process, I fell in love with Jesus. Little did I know that I was being prepared for a life as a minister of the gospel. Today, I share the gospel wherever He leads me so that His word is glorified, people are edified, and Satan is terrified.
I do what I do because of His love for me. I’m convicted! For instance, I believe it is nessesary to extend a sincere apology for our failure as the church of Jesus Christ to be there for many in their neediest times. I know that feeling. You see, before my father died, I didn’t see anybody from the church visit him. It resulted in me not attending church for an extended period of time. I felt like the church failed me. But, I didn’t fall in love with church, I fell in love with Jesus.
I do what I do to tell you of the great love Christ has for humanity, to tell the world that the Lord has not forgotten them, and that He knows what they’re going through. He hasn’t forgotten about any of us. He loves us and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it! I do what I do to make sure that not only the people understand that the Lord loves not just His community of faith, but He loves the world unconditionally, including and especially the people that you love.
Someone said that change is only scary when it will make your situation worse. Change may not be easy, but when you’re being led to a better place by one who loves you, there is no need to fear! I do what I do to help people change. I do what I do to encourage people, to inspire people, to help them to make a decision today to give the Lord an opportunity to prove Himself in their lives. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “We must all learn to live together as brothers and sisters, or we will all perish together as fools!” I do what I do so that we can live in a world were we can live together as brothers and sisters, under one Lord, with one baptism and with one faith!
Be blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting, and hosts “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio (internet), Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM. Listen here or by phone at 626-226-1448. Be sure to friend “Matters of Faith” on Facebook and email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. You can also use the email or call (718) 328-8096 to order Matters of Faith: The Book.
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