Issue 1399 – Visiting – March 19, 2024
In Sunday’s sermon, the pastor mentioned people visiting in the lives of others. It was a one-line statement amid a broader picture about living out our faith walk.
It was a throwaway line in some ways, but it resonated with me.
I’m a visitor. I’m not a highly social person by nature. I have many acquaintances, but a small circle of those I would call 2 AM friends. Those are people you could call out of the blue about anything, at any time, day or night and not have to worry about how they would react.
Having said that, I will talk to anyone. Random people on the streets or in stores will share their life stories with me. I serve on the greeting team at church. I converse with cashiers and delivery people.
It’s always been a mixed blessing and a curse. It’s a matter of trust when a stranger shares their heart with you. At the same time, it can be frustrating when you are in a hurry, and some random person needs to visit.
When those things happen, I have been invited to share someone’s life momentarily. It is a gift from God.
At times, I might have an opportunity to share about Jesus. At other times, I listen. No two visits are ever the same, and usually, I will never see that person again (unless it’s when I am greeting at the church door or seeing my “regular” cashier at the grocery store.)
These visits allow me to shine Jesus’s love into others’ lives. Only God knows whether they bear fruit, but that’s His department anyway.
We are called to love others. Often, that happens in small doses; it doesn’t need to be a huge “ministry.” A kind word to a stranger is a gift of love and compassion.
The Bible doesn’t explicitly command us, “Go ye into the world and converse with all and sundry sojourners.”
It tells us to be hospitable, live in peace, and be a blessing in His name.
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:17
Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:29-31
Whose life will you be privileged to visit with today? Will you bless them in His name?
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)