Heaven In The Now By Ace CollinsSample

Day 5

It’s About Serving Others (We’ll Soon Be Done With Troubles and Trials)

James 2:14-18

In 1936, a twenty-six-year-old black preacher, packed a suitcase and made a long train trip from rural Alabama to Dallas, Texas. Like others of his color, he rode in a segregated coach with few creature comforts. He couldn’t even visit the train’s dining car. This man’s congregation, largely made up of maids and sharecroppers, worshipped in a drafty building, sat on worn out backless benches, and owned no songbooks. Their lack of hymnals reflected the state of their lives. They had nothing, and sadly, there seemed to be no hope for a better tomorrow. 

Rev. Cleavant Derricks, whose annual salary as the church’s pastor wouldn’t even buy him a nice suit, never complained. He accepted poverty as a part of his calling. In his mind, everything he had was on loan from God anyway. As the small, humble man, dressed in a suit and tie entered the Stamp-Baxter music publishing offices, he explained he was sorry for bothering the receptionist, and didn’t want to waste anyone’s time, but he had written few songs he believed the publisher might like. A few minutes later, a few disinterested employees sat around a piano in a practice room and watched thin fingers tickle a keyboard. When Derricks began to sing, eyes lit up and heads shook. The audience was bored no more; they were impressed. 

Those making the decisions at Stamps-Baxter asked what Derricks wanted for “Just a Little Talk with Jesus,” and “We’ll Soon Be Done with Troubles and Trails”. The preacher suggested he be paid with an answered prayer. His flock had been needing songbooks for years. Legal documents were quickly drawn up and a smiling and thankful Derricks left with fifty new hymnals. 

Derricks was not even notified when his songs were published. Yet, thanks to famous white gospel quartets recording his pair of hymns, he was aware that others were getting to hear his work. For the humble man of God, that, and the songbooks his congregation used during every worship service, was enough.

Derricks believed that through faith, even the poorest of the poor, those whose lives were filled with trials, could find and share heaven while on earth. He was willing to give up everything he had to impart that message. Thanks to his songs, not only did his congregation finally get hymnals, but millions of others were inspired by his musical testimony of grace and love.

The Gospel of James spells out pretty clearly that those who are selfish, those who don’t share their blessings with the poor, might not find God’s grace here on earth or in heaven. Therefore, to truly be followers of Christ, we must display our faith through our compassion to “the least of these.”

Lord, you give us everything so that we could receive something we don’t deserve — your love, grace and a home in heaven. Help us to fully understand the gifts you have given us and humbly and lovingly share our blessings with others.