April 3, 2026
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Jesus said,
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”
— Matthew 7:7 (KJV)
We believe those words. We pray, we ask, and we trust that God hears us.
But what happens when the miracle comes, and we are not paying attention?
In the book of Acts, the early church was gathered in prayer. Peter had been taken and placed in prison, and the situation was serious.
And God answered.
Peter was released, and he went to the house where they were gathered. He knocked at the door.
A servant named Rhoda came to answer. She recognized his voice and ran to tell the others — leaving him still standing outside.
They told her she was mistaken.
“And they said unto her, Thou art mad.”
— Acts 12:15 (KJV)
It is a bit humorous and very human scene.
They were praying, and still they did not believe the answer when it came.
And all the while, Peter kept knocking.
OPEN THE DOOR!
They were not doing the wrong things.
They were praying.
But the answer had already come, and it was waiting outside.
At times, it is possible to be so occupied with the work of the church that we miss the moment to simply be the church.
Not because we do not care. But because we are already busy doing what we believe is right.
And still, the door goes unanswered.
In our work, there are moments that do not need more discussions or committees sitting around having debates.
These times need a response.
A visit. A call. A word. A step.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2 (KJV)
Prayer matters.
Faith matters.
But there are also moments when the next step is simply to respond.
Sometimes, it begins with opening the door.
Those Who Are Quietly Overlooked
There is another moment in the early church I want to call attention towards:
“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.”
– Acts 6:1 (KJV)
No one set out to neglect them.
Attention was called and the church did not ignore it.
The differences were set aside to focus on the needs.
They made room for the work to be shared.
Others stepped in, and the care of the community grew stronger.
These two moments sit close together.
In one, the answer is at the door, and it is not believed.
In the other, the need is within the church, and it is not seen.
And in both, the turning point begins the same way:
Someone notices.
Someone speaks.
Differences are set aside and the work gets done!
A Pattern in the Early Church
Earlier this year, I mentioned Barnabas. He was there in the early days of the church, encouraging others and helping steady the work. He was not at the center of the most action-packed events of The Bible, but he strengthened what was happening around him. Yet, his presence in the Word tells us – being a Barnabas gets you eternally in the Good Book!
Notice.
Encourage.
Respond.
Showing your Christianity is, dare I say it? : more important that expressing it!
Show your walk with Christ with your neighbors.
Set an example.
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
— Acts 2:42 (KJV)
When the Moment Comes
The moments we are speaking of are often small.
A name that comes to mind.
A visit that could be made.
A need that becomes clear.
They do not arrive with great announcement.
And yet, they are often where the work is.
There are times when the call is not to do more alone, but to make room for others to take part.
“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied…”
— Acts 6:7 (KJV)
Encouragement in the Work We Share
In uncertain times, people are not only listening for words. They are watching for care.
We will not always have perfect answers.
But we are still given moments to act.
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceaseth, his mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
— Lamentations 3:22–23 (KJV)
The early church was human. They prayed, they hesitated, they missed things, they adjusted, and they kept going.
That same opportunity is still before us.
The door will not always be obvious.
The need will not always be announced.
But the moment will come.
And when it does,
may we be ready to open the door.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank Thee that Thou dost hear us when we pray, and that Thou art at work even when we do not yet see it clearly.
Give us eyes to recognize what is before us, and hearts willing to respond. Help us not only to speak of faith, but to act in it when the moment comes.
Teach us to notice those who may be quietly overlooked, and to make room for others to share in the work of care.
Strengthen us in uncertain times, and help us to remain faithful in both the great moments and the quiet ones.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
Yours In Christ,
Kelly Kendrick Sister Cathy
Volunteer Bishop Of the Church