He passed by me in the hallway at our place of worship. His eyes caught mine and I was not sure what to make of it. What was on his mind? Did he think that I was just one of “those Christians”, who pretend to believe and put into action the words of Jesus? I felt a sense that he was alone and may need someone to talk to. The throngs swirled around us and it was impossible to swim against the flow of the oncoming traffic of the crowds headed to the worship service. The opportunity to talk to him had been lost.
As my wife and I made our way to the car, I noticed he had come outside for a smoke. Believing this to be a “divinely” appointed moment, I told my wife that I had left something in the classroom. As I made my way back towards the doors, I took the opportunity to speak to him. I asked him how he was doing, if he was alright, and he replied that he was. I went inside to get the item that I had left there and came back outside. As I passed him again, I asked if he needed a ride and he said no. The look in his eyes said to me that not everything was fine, but he thanked me and I told him to have a good week. It was only a brief exchange, maybe not all that he needed, but all he could afford to give at the time. A glimmer of light, maybe a glimpse of Hope, that someone had noticed him as they passed by.
I cannot say where this man has been, what he has been through in his life, or what his plans are. We have a recovery group at our church and I am fairly certain that he is part of this class. There are already others to minister to him, but he was someone I noticed and felt compelled to talk with. How could I let the moment pass me by? I could easily have slipped into a familiar smugness and carried on without a care. Or could I? It is not mine to judge this man for where he has been or how he got there. It was an opportunity to show Love to someone who, up until this point, may not have seen it very much.
Before you pat me on the back or believe me to be a great “Christian”, let me assure you that I am not worthy of either of those thoughts. I do not deserve credit or accolades, for I am one who has had a smugness to my life and judged myself to be better than others for not committing the sins that they have. In my self-righteousness, I have believed myself to be better, without regard to others or the places they have found themselves. I had the privilege of being raised in a “Christian” home, went to church every Sunday, every revival, and every event. Believed that by doing these things and not doing others, that this improved my standing with God. All the while knowing the depths of depravity that a young man can know.
Only when I recognized that I was Broken and Life brought me to my knees, did I come to know and recognize the Grace that I needed, and that it took, for Him to Love me through my mess. Like the unworthy tax collector, who could not lift his face towards heaven (Luke 18:9-14), I became deeply aware of my own sins and recognized the need for God’s Grace in my life. Though my sins were many, vile and atrocious; I became a person who was forgiven of much, in order to show and spread the Love of Christ to many (Luke 7:47-48). As I began to believe that the Father’s Love was greater than I had ever imagined, a Love filled my heart that was once so faint that I had forgotten it. As I began to see myself as one loved by God despite all that I had tried to do to break that fellowship, I found it easier to look with compassion on others rather than look down my nose.
As I look around at others, I am reminded that there is never a day, never a moment, that I do not need His Grace. Sure, others do as well, but this does not give me the right to judge them or to look down on them for doing something that I may not do. I am no better, and, in fact, am worse off because of the moments that I do not recognize my own sin and shame. I would rather err on the side of His Grace, Mercy, and Compassion than to live as though I don't believe they exist. I would rather give of myself and lean more heavily on His Grace, than to believe that by my own strength or rule-keeping, that I could possibly be better than one who has not discovered His Riches yet. If I live my life without sharing and offering what I have received and tasted of, then I am not who I claim to be.
There are many who need to see the Light of Hope inside of us and we have a chance every day to show them. There are opportunities, chances to share the Love of Christ with many who barely hold their heads up, who find it hard to believe in a God who loves them as they are and not as they believe that they should be. But we are all beggars at Mercy’s door, all in need of His Grace and the Unconditional and Unfailing Love of the One who gave up His only Son. Look around you. Search for those who need to know of His healing touch. Let’s bring them to our Good and Loving Father…
As my wife and I made our way to the car, I noticed he had come outside for a smoke. Believing this to be a “divinely” appointed moment, I told my wife that I had left something in the classroom. As I made my way back towards the doors, I took the opportunity to speak to him. I asked him how he was doing, if he was alright, and he replied that he was. I went inside to get the item that I had left there and came back outside. As I passed him again, I asked if he needed a ride and he said no. The look in his eyes said to me that not everything was fine, but he thanked me and I told him to have a good week. It was only a brief exchange, maybe not all that he needed, but all he could afford to give at the time. A glimmer of light, maybe a glimpse of Hope, that someone had noticed him as they passed by.
I cannot say where this man has been, what he has been through in his life, or what his plans are. We have a recovery group at our church and I am fairly certain that he is part of this class. There are already others to minister to him, but he was someone I noticed and felt compelled to talk with. How could I let the moment pass me by? I could easily have slipped into a familiar smugness and carried on without a care. Or could I? It is not mine to judge this man for where he has been or how he got there. It was an opportunity to show Love to someone who, up until this point, may not have seen it very much.
Before you pat me on the back or believe me to be a great “Christian”, let me assure you that I am not worthy of either of those thoughts. I do not deserve credit or accolades, for I am one who has had a smugness to my life and judged myself to be better than others for not committing the sins that they have. In my self-righteousness, I have believed myself to be better, without regard to others or the places they have found themselves. I had the privilege of being raised in a “Christian” home, went to church every Sunday, every revival, and every event. Believed that by doing these things and not doing others, that this improved my standing with God. All the while knowing the depths of depravity that a young man can know.
Only when I recognized that I was Broken and Life brought me to my knees, did I come to know and recognize the Grace that I needed, and that it took, for Him to Love me through my mess. Like the unworthy tax collector, who could not lift his face towards heaven (Luke 18:9-14), I became deeply aware of my own sins and recognized the need for God’s Grace in my life. Though my sins were many, vile and atrocious; I became a person who was forgiven of much, in order to show and spread the Love of Christ to many (Luke 7:47-48). As I began to believe that the Father’s Love was greater than I had ever imagined, a Love filled my heart that was once so faint that I had forgotten it. As I began to see myself as one loved by God despite all that I had tried to do to break that fellowship, I found it easier to look with compassion on others rather than look down my nose.
As I look around at others, I am reminded that there is never a day, never a moment, that I do not need His Grace. Sure, others do as well, but this does not give me the right to judge them or to look down on them for doing something that I may not do. I am no better, and, in fact, am worse off because of the moments that I do not recognize my own sin and shame. I would rather err on the side of His Grace, Mercy, and Compassion than to live as though I don't believe they exist. I would rather give of myself and lean more heavily on His Grace, than to believe that by my own strength or rule-keeping, that I could possibly be better than one who has not discovered His Riches yet. If I live my life without sharing and offering what I have received and tasted of, then I am not who I claim to be.
There are many who need to see the Light of Hope inside of us and we have a chance every day to show them. There are opportunities, chances to share the Love of Christ with many who barely hold their heads up, who find it hard to believe in a God who loves them as they are and not as they believe that they should be. But we are all beggars at Mercy’s door, all in need of His Grace and the Unconditional and Unfailing Love of the One who gave up His only Son. Look around you. Search for those who need to know of His healing touch. Let’s bring them to our Good and Loving Father…
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