All around us people are in desperate situations. Situations that appear outside of our natural ability to impact, and yet they still need to be fixed. Many are suffering, some silently, but others not so much. For all of these, there is only a single lasting solution and that is Jesus.
My husband and I are once again on the road traveling, covering lots of miles up the east coast. As with all of our trips we may have a particular destination that has our focus, but we know very well how God regularly interrupts that focus to bless others.
Two days ago it was about a man sitting on a sidewalk outside of a McDonald’s. He asked for nothing, and yet his condition spoke of great need. When I asked if we could do something for him, his initial reply was no, but then he said he would take a hamburger. I was pleased that he would allow us to do something for him, but there was a lesson awaiting me in this encounter.
We all have this burning desire to show the love of Jesus by helping others. As believers I know that our strong desire is to leave people better than we found them. In fact, Jesus clearly refers to this in Matthew when He spoke how we fed, clothed, and gave drink to someone in need. That someone He is referring to is Him. So, this is always my data point, but now comes my lesson.
I am all about abundance because I know what the Word of God declares, and I grab hold of it all! Yesterday I just couldn’t give that man we met sitting on the sidewalk just a hamburger. I got him a hamburger, fries, a drink, and an ice cream cone. He took everything in stride, but I overwhelmed him. Did I mention he was an amputee?
This man was standing when I approached him with all of this food. All at once it was clear that in my zeal to be the hands and feet of Jesus, I was asking him to hold everything in one hand. But, once you have given you cannot take back, so I had to watch him hold it all. As we walked away I thanked God for His grace to cover all my good intentions that go wrong, and for my discerning husband.
We left him with food, yes, but more importantly we left him with a word about Jesus. His acknowledgment of Jesus was detached and impersonal even as Jack spoke of his wonderful Friend. When Jack asked him if he knew Jesus the man said, “They say He is the Savior.” Jack then cleared up any confusion when he said, “Jesus is the Savior, Son of Man and Son of God. And, all who call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Success at last! I am thankful for a husband that grabbed hold of the bigger picture and didn’t let it go.
Matthew 25: 37-40 CSB “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.’