Whilst there, I was rushing to the prayer meeting on the final day. I bumped into a couple of Christian medical students headed in the same direction en route to the airport. I strode ahead, reluctantly dragging Nina's suitcase while Maelvin struggled with his massive shoulder bag. We had a kilometre to go. For some reason I slowed down, turned around, and helped Maelvin with his bag. Nina said I was the answer to their prayer that morning. I am ashamed that I contemplated leaving them behind.
I marvel that God reigns over the whole earth and yet cares about the pettiness of my life. I need to repent of my hypocrisy: 'What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds (Jas 2:14a)?' Surely, God could not be pleased if I ignored the needs of believers at my side for the sake of getting to the prayer meeting on time.
'Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says' (Jas 1:22). We need to live out the faith we profess in every aspect of our lives. Tessellating, a great book reviewed on page 42, challenges us to do so in the context of healthcare. The author, Jeremy Beckett, believes Christian doctors can offer more than just cure. Find out what 'Becoming a Healer' means (pp 17-23).
Our faith should lead to good deeds; and the cornerstone of our faith is the Bible. We hope the new series based on the book How to Read the Bible for all its Worth (pp 36-39) will help you read the Bible as God intended, and from there, to 'humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you' (Jas 1:21b).
We have all heard of David Livingstone's exploits. Did you know he was a Christian doctor? Sarah Teague takes a closer look at this man whose deeds reflected his faith (pp 32-35). Whilst not all of us will be called to find the source of the Nile, most of us will encounter somebody with an eating disorder. Sharon McConville contemplates a Christian response (pp 24-31).
In this issue we celebrate 35 years of Nucleus. Mark Pickering reminisces over more than 150 issues of the journal (pp 10,11).
I praise God that I am saved by grace (Eph 2:8,9). But as I start a new academic year I remember what Paul says next: 'For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10).'
