Dave’s Monday Blast – November 11, 2019
A recent interview with the Duchess of Sussex (Meghan Markle) generated a great deal of media play. In a moment of vulnerability she expressed how lonely it is being a part of the Royal Family. She indicated that she was not doing well after the birth of her child added to the pressures of her marital reality; she is drowning and the world watches with relative disregard. To an extent, that’s just part of living in a world where everyone is dealing with their own problems and we do not seem to have the time or energy to reach out to help others.
Pastor Jim Denision comments,”As Christians tasked with taking Jesus to our culture, the reality of the human condition presents us with some very low-hanging fruit for how we can make a real difference in the lives of others. Throughout His ministry, Jesus made it a point to be aware of the people the Father placed in His path so He would not miss those divinely appointed, yet seemingly ordinary, opportunities to help those the rest of the world overlooked.”
Whether it was the woman at the well (John 4:1-45), Zachaesus hiding up in a tree (Luke 19:1-10), or the woman who touched the hem of His robe as He passed by (Luke 8:42-48), some of Christ’s most powerful moments of ministry happened simply because He took the initiative to strike up a conversation with someone who needed it.
The key to following Christ’s example is being attentive to those around us and, most importantly, to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. Sometimes, casual conversations can make the greatest impact on another person’s life. And simply taking the time to engage at a level beyond what’s required for common courtesy can really stand out.
Today, you are likely to encounter several people who are hurting in ways that are not apparent unless you ask. Simple, sincere, organic questions can open the door for the kind of redemptive conversations that carry eternal significance. Interestingly enough, even hurting people around us are unaware of just how much they crave the sense of genuine concern and compassion that should come naturally to those who live every day infused with the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Just because it should come naturally does not mean it will. We MUST be INTENTIONAL and practice this process to do it well. We work to MODEL the empathy that made Jesus so attractive to the hurting people He encountered. Remember…we are His ambassadors…we are His hands and feet. People MUST see Jesus in their encounters with us.
