Issue 1668 – Old Pete – February 10, 2025

He was sitting at the bus stop when I arrived. He was an older  gentleman, and it was hard to tell precisely how old he was. He was dirty and smelled less than pleasant. It was only 11:00 a.m., and he smelled like he’d been drinking all day.

I want to tell you I was super-spiritual, talked with him, and shared the gospel, but to my shame, I was tired from the morning classes I had just finished and stood behind him. That didn’t deter him; he turned around and began to talk.

He told me his name, Pete, his life story, and more. I could hardly get a word in edgewise. Pete had a lot of words he wanted to share with anyone who would listen. 

Then his bus arrived. He rose, smiled, and said, “Thanks for talking to me. Most people don’t.”

Ouch! He had been blessed by just having someone listen to him. I had some serious repenting to do. God had been at work despite me.

I wrote about it before, but loneliness is one of the biggest problems in our busy world. It’s hard to imagine that in a world with more than six billion people and instant connectivity anywhere on Earth, anyone could be lonely, but it’s true. Even in houses full of family, many people lie awake in the middle of the night, aching with loneliness and asking themselves questions like:

Does anyone even care that I’m alive?

Will anyone even miss me if I disappeared?

Why is everyone else so happy when I feel so all alone?

Is there any meaning to my life?

Why doesn’t someone care?

Why doesn’t anyone ever listen to me?

Am I invisible?

The list goes on and on.

For those of us who know Christ, we don’t ever need to ask those questions. If we know who we are in Him, we understand how much He loves us and will never leave us. We know that He has a purpose for our lives and will always be there for us.

At least, I hope that we know those truths.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

A believer is never alone. We need never suffer from loneliness.

Sometimes, God’s people will let you down, like I would have done with Pete as he waited on the bus; after all, we’re only people, but God never will.

Until next time, rejoice that you are loved and have value beyond measure.

Be blessed

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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