Pam Padgett ... teacher
John 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he
would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the
Jews 'feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brethren
therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy
disciples also may see the works that thou doest. 4 For there is no man
that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known
openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. 5 For
neither did his brethren believe in him. 6 Then Jesus said unto them, My
time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. 7 The world cannot
hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works
thereof are evil. 8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this
feast; for my time is not yet full come. 9 When he had said these words
unto them, he abode still in Galilee. 10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
The brethren, who didn't believe in Him, tried to get Jesus
to go into Judaea for the feast of tabernacles according to when they said and to go openly. But this was not the will of God, and Jesus did not follow what they said. When it was time for Jesus to go to the feast after His brethren had gone, He went, and He went secretly.
People sometimes come across our paths
and try to lead us in their own wisdom, thinking they know what we ought to do. They want us to follow them. But for
those of us who are of God, being led by the Holy Spirit and doing the will of God is what is
important.
I was reminded of this example ... Not long after I retired one of my neighbors, Carol, thought I needed to stay busy by doing volunteer work, and she told me of multiple volunteer opportunities. But
nothing she suggested appealed to me and some seemed like they would be heavy
burdens. I did pray about these things willing for my heart to be
changed, but I wasn't shown to do any of them and it was not
in my heart to do them, so I didn't.
One afternoon a short time later the Holy Spirit kept bringing to my attention to see if my elderly neighbor's trash can was still at the end of his driveway.
This neighbor, Jim, is a widower living alone, and typically puts his
trash can in the garage soon after the trash truck empties it. But that afternoon when the thought to check his trash can kept being brought to my
mind, I saw that his trash can was still at the end of the
driveway. This was very unusual. I tried to call Jim on the telephone,
but there was no answer. Thinking he was probably just away from
home, I thought I'd wait a few more hours before taking any action.
But, in a thought, the Holy Spirit told me there was no need to wait before checking on Jim.
Several years before when his wife was still living, she had asked me
to keep a key to their house. I took the key, went to Jim's house, and found him laying on the floor of his kitchen
injured and unable to get up. He had fallen and had been lying there
for more than 20 hours unable to reach the telephone to call for help! I
called for an ambulance and he was taken to the hospital with several
injuries including a broken hip.
He was in the hospital and rehab center for several weeks. While
there, I took care of Jim's cat, picked up his mail, visited him in the
hospital and rehab center, and ran a few errands for him. It was no
problem to do these things, and I was happy to be able to do them. A
few times Jim commented how unusual it is for a neighbor to help like
this. I was reminded of the parable Jesus gave of the Samaritan having compassion and helping the man who came across his path in need. We are to do likewise. Certainly Jim had come across my path
with a need! I told these things to Jim and printed this parable out and gave it to him ...
Luke 10:30 And Jesus
answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and
fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him,
and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a
certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other
side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and
looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain
Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he
had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds,
pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him
to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed,
he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him,
Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I
will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was
neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that
shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
The Holy Spirit led me to find and help Jim. It was right in the sight of God to help Jim, and was very easy and no problem, for this was the will of God
for me.
On the other hand, Carol in her own wisdom tried to tell me what I should be doing,
but those things were not God's will for me and I couldn't go that
way. (Interestingly, Carol tried to get me to do volunteer work, but thought I was wrong for helping Jim. Not having the Holy Spirit she doesn't know good from evil.)