This past week I had two encounters with homeless individuals that left a mark on me. The first one was positive. I saw someone at the intersection with a sign and remembered that our church created winter care packages so I reached in the back seat of my car for the package and gave it to them. I drove off feeling good about myself. It’s really amazing how Lifespring has responded to a need and that we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to those we come across.
The second encounter I had was not so positive. As I was doing my Christmas shopping, I saw a homeless man clearly rummaging through the trash trying to find some food. I saw him and my spirit was prompting me to give him something but I froze. I was scared. I couldn’t muster up enough courage to go over and bless him. I continued shopping with that image of him in the back of my head.
I’ll be honest with you, based on my previous experiences with homeless people I’ve been scarred by negative experiences that have instilled an underlying fear towards them. I’ve seen how unpredictable they can be and as a result I have trained myself to turn the other way.
As I sat in my car not being able to shake this encounter from my head, the Holy Spirit showed me my brother. Though he is not homeless, there were many times where he was panhandling and sleeping on the streets for periods of time. God asked me, “If that was your brother, would you turn the other way?” “How many people do you think turned their face from him when he needed help?”
My heart started to break because at the end of the day, that was someone’s son. That could have been someone’s father, cousin, uncle etc.
I chose to conform to the patterns of this world rather than being transformed by the renewing of my mind. My rational fears have clouded my judgment. Where I needed to allow my spirit to lead and heart to take over, I let my fears lead and circumstances dictate my actions.
As I unpacked my experience, I was reminded that Jesus didn’t turn his face away from the sick and poor but he turned his face towards them. He wasn’t looking for credit, He wasn’t trying to feel good about himself, no, He was doing what the father told Him to do.
As you spend your Christmas Holidays with your Family and Friends, I just ask that you would lift up in prayer those who don’t have any family or friends this Christmas. I ask that you take the time to give God praise for all that He has given you.
If I told you that I was thankful for a place to live and a bed to sleep in at night, it might not mean much to you. But If I told the same thing to someone who didn’t have a place to go and sleep at night, they might understand how much of a blessing that really is.
I want to leave you with a scripture I read this week that I hope will help posture our hearts for the New Year. In reading and reflection, I pray that these words would minister to you and that you would give God the praise He deserves.
1 Chronicles 16:8-36 (NIV)
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
He remembers his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
“To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion you will inherit.”
When they were but few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in it,
they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
He allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:
“Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.”
Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
Let the trees of the forest sing,
let them sing for joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;
gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.”
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”