Shine like Stars!

Jeff Collins, director of “Love & Action” (a national, interdenominational, Christian ministry offering help and hope to men, women and children who are HIV+ or living with AIDS by sharing Jesus’ love, grace, mercy and hope through word and deed), shared the following powerful, true story.

It had been a trying week at our Love & Action office. At 5:00pm on a Friday, I was looking forward to having a quiet dinner with friends. Then the phone rang.

I heard a quivering voice: “Jeff! It’s Jimmy!” Jimmy suffered from several AIDS-related illnesses and was one of our regular clients. “I’m really sick, Jeff. I’ve got a fever. Please help me.”

I was angry! After a 60-hour workweek, I didn’t want to hear about Jimmy. But I promised to be right over. Still, during the drive, I complained to God about the inconvenience.

The moment I walked in the door, I could smell the vomit. Jimmy was on the sofa, shivering and in distress. I wiped his forehead, then got a bucket of soapy water to clean up the mess. I managed to maintain a facade of concern, even though I was raging inside.

Jimmy’s friend, Russ, who also had AIDS, came down the stairs. The odor made Russ sick, too.

As I cleaned the carpet around Russ’s chair, I was ready to explode inside. Then Russ startled me. “I understand! I understand!”

“What, Russ?” Jimmy asked weakly.

“I understand who Jesus is,” Russ said through tears. “He’s like Jeff!” Weeping, I hugged Russ and prayed with him. That night Russ trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior—a God who had used me to show his love in spite of myself.

I am afraid that I am more often than not like Jeff. Nevertheless, Christ-like Living does all things without grumbling or disputing. That is what the gospel calls us to.

In Philippians 2:13, the Apostle Paul declares that “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” He then explains how that happens through a Right Perspective and Right Living. The goal is that “you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe” (v15). Are you shining with the light of Jesus Christ in your life? Are you willing to be an avenue – an instrument – of His amazing grace, mercy, and loving-kindness to others? Jesus commands us, “let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Let’s shine for Jesus! Just do it!

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This Sunday, August 30, we will continue our series “Unshakable Joy!” with “Shine like Stars” (Philippians 2:12-30). Please invite someone to join you at the 10:35am worship service in the building or online for the Live broadcast on either Facebook (Honolulu AG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We Livestream every Sunday to both locations and would love to have you join us!

Coming Up: Everyone is invited to a Labor Day Potluck Lunch in the Fellowship Hall right after the 10:35am service on Sunday, September 6. Bring your favorite foods to add to the table. It will be ono-licious!

My dad, William Ashpole, longtime Assembly of God pastor and former Hawaii AG District official (presbyter, Christian Education Director, and Assistant Superintendent) experienced a major stroke Sunday, August 9, and was placed in hospice care at his home in Wahiawa. He entered heaven Thursday, August 20, to see Jesus face-to-face and receive his reward. He was 97 years old and had ministered faithfully in Hawaii for 59 years.

Aloha and Aloha ke Akua!