It seems a strange but true laws that we do not pray as we should. Curiously, we also still tend to pray more for people than to let them take a real practical help.
Isaac Loeb Peretz
(1852-1915) wrote a wonderful story about a Rabbi in Russia. This Rabbi was by those who knew him loved and appreciated and he was known for a unique relationship with God. A special feature of it was particularly interesting: Every Friday, he was gone for a few hours and then was not found. The people in the village gave a little of that, claiming that her rabbi would ascend to this prayer to heaven there to talk to God.
A newly drawn to the village a young man was a skeptic who scoffed at the faith of the simple villagers. Particularly irritated by the allegations against the rabbi, he decided one day to find out where the old man spent his days off. So he hid near the house and kept watch. He observed how the Rabbi got up early on Friday, took time for prayer and then the house - dressed like a farmer - left.
The man followed him at a safe distance and was able to observe how the rabbi cut down a tree, which he processed into a neat stack of firewood. He also observed how the rabbi broke up with the wood to a small hut in the forest. It was the home of an old woman, who then used her sick son. After the two vulnerable and frail people left there enough wood for about a week, he returned to his own house.
Pertz 'History ends with the story, like the young man who had observed all this, finally, a disciple of Rabbis was. For the rest of his life, whenever he heard someone in the village tell the mysterious story of the Rabi, he was quiet. He laughed no more about it, no sarcasm escaped his lips. Instead, he listened respectfully and said, if the language came to the rabbi's "trip to heaven," added quietly: "If not even higher ...".
We seem inclined to want to prove our discipleship to Jesus through church membership and doctrinal correctness. It's a little easy. The true real evidence that we know God is, but rather to serve selflessly and lovingly. Food for the hungry, shelter for those who are cold and lonely for the community - this is the way of Jesus. And it is also the best way to deal with skepticism and disbelief.
Do not just deeds, to being seen by others, but be aware you that sincere actions - even secretly - Witnesses. If you really know God and live with Him, then it is someone watching, noticing. This person wants to find out the secret of such a life and is thus able to Jesus.
what use it, my brothers, if a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him then? If a brother or sister is without clothes and now they lack of daily food, and any of you would say to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled you, but you would not give them! what is needed to satisfy their physical needs, what would help So it is with faith: If he has no works, it is in itself dead
James 2 , 14-15
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