Last Saturday I headed to Jackson for a hospital visit. It was a glorious day as I traversed the verdant hills of the Mississippi countryside.
But my mind was momentarily preempted from the beauty by the name of a friend of mine. Not long ago, Larry had his wife of many years swept from his arms into heaven.
So why did I think of him just then? Was this a synapse misfiring in my brain? My mind often resembles a train station—peoples’ names and memories flitting through on their way somewhere.
But some time ago I realized these friendly visits to my brain might not be accidental. Perhaps Someone was seeking my attention, asking me to interact with those flitting phantoms on His behalf.
So thinking of this man 800 miles away, I called him for a happy chat, and then continued with my day.
Later, Larry texted me. Among other things, he told me he appreciated the call and that it answered a question that had puzzled him: how an angel could “minister to the Lord Jesus in His agony.”
Angels directly ministered to the Lord on at least two occasions. After 40 days in the desert, where the devil tried—and failed—to tempt Him, we read, “behold, angels came and ministered to Him.” (Matthew 4:11)
Again, after facing the agony of the cross, prostrate in Gethsemane, and praying, “Not My will, but Yours be done,” we again read about angels ministering. “Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.” (Luke 22:43)
Angels can do the same for us today (see Hebrews 1:14), but more often the Lord Jesus wants to use humans to help hurting or discouraged souls.
Why? Because we can share with others the help the Lord gave us when we passed through similar circumstances. “The God of all comfort…comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, BSB)
When, by faith in Christ, I become a member of God’s family, I also sign up to care for that family wherever I find them. “And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” (1 John 4:21)
God’s people “are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27), but what does that mean?
When we were moving to Michigan, my wife was trying to pack up everything while herding five children. The Lord saw her exhaustion and decided to make supper. But He doesn’t have a kitchen so He went looking for someone willing to help.
A dear lady, suffering with MS, heard heaven’s signal and responded. She even brought the dishes! She said the wash-up after was also part of the gift.
If we’re the Lord’s, we’ll hear these invites to work with Him on such projects. We might call this our oughtobiography.* What ought I to be doing with Him today? When you think of someone, maybe Someone is also thinking of them, and wants you to send a note, make a call, or deliver some 3D love on His behalf.
Keep your oughtobiography current. Someday it will make fascinating reading.
(*The word “oughtobiography” was first used in the title of a book by David Marcus, published in 2001.)
Article published July 12, 2025 in the Commercial Dispatch.