home.
home.
Oct 03
homeless…
yeah, this is the picture that we usually get when we hear that word. as we walk by them, we quickly whisper prayers or say to the person with us, ‘that’s so sad’… we might offer some change or leftover food quickly out our window to the guy holding the ‘will work for food’ sign… it’s costly & inconvenient to really do something about it.
but, Jesus did it for you. He stepped out of perfection and got his hands dirty in order to do something about the homeless condition of our world. and, then upon the completion of His mission , He returned to perfection in order to add on to His house – so that we could join Him (John 14). now that’s the CRIBS episode I want to watch!!
Jesus looked closer at homeless humanity and saw a face… a soul… He peered past our dirty, sinful and hardened exterior – He saw potential, destiny & hope. He loved us while we were dirty, lost & desperate.
the homeless aren’t just in alleys, on benches or at freeway on-ramps… they’re sitting next to you at Starbucks, running on the treadmill next to you at the gym, mowing the grass of the house across the street or even walking into church with you this weekend. they’re everywhere!
it’s sometimes easier to come to the inner-city and feed a homeless person or pass out candy to kids in the projects – their needs are more obvious to us. this might also expose a little prejudice in us… hmmm… (it’s easier to help those that we have pity on or think we’re better than). but with those that seem to have ‘everything’ it’s more difficult and IF we’re not careful, our insecurity flares up and we end up trying to impress them – failing to see their homeless condition. look into their faces more deeply & prayefully and through their eyes you’ll see a sad, neglected, lonely heart laying on the bench of their soul. this IS your moment… what will you do!
the “least of these” are not always those with obvious, physical poverty – remember the rich young man in Matthew 19? it’s time to love the way Christ loved (and loves) you: unconditionally, boldly & completely.
the homeless await… chilly
hmmm. i do not think i have processed that before. That the lost are like the homeless. Its pretty eye opening.
I thank God He saw me when I had no home and is building a place onto His house for me! I can invite others now. Thanks for reminding me not to try to impress them but to love and pray and look deeper into people… and do something.
Wow… I really needed to hear that… it is so easy to forget. Lord forgive me. Thank you for the eye opener Captain. Pants
“Jesus looked closer at homeless humanity and saw a face… a soul… He peered past our dirty, sinful and hardened exterior – He saw potential, destiny & hope. He loved us while we were dirty, lost & desperate.”
wow. his grace is so astounding…i echo Paul’s words “what undeserved mercy” not just because he saved me, but because everyday he saves me. it’s like i’m in a never ending damsel-in-distress state and then there is God. whoa. everyday he saves me from me. forgives me again. and again. and again. thank you Jesus!!
thanks Captain for the reminder. how quickly we can take God for granted.
That is a truly awesome word Chilly. That rocked me to my core.