I love stories. I know. I know. I’ve told you that before, haven’t I? Stories grab our hearts and captivate us with truth in unique and subtle but powerful ways.
So here’s the latest one I want to share with you. It’s from Max Lucado’s Grace for the Moment devotional.
Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian writer, tells of the time he was walking down the street and passed a beggar. Tolstoy reached into his pocket to give the beggar some money, but his pocket was empty. Tolstoy turned to the man and said, “I’m sorry, my brother, but I have nothing to give.”
The beggar brightened and said, “You have given me more than I asked for—you have called me brother.”
To the loved, a word of affection is a morsel, but to the love-starved, a word of affection can be a feast.
Do you know people who are starving for a morsel of love? How can you reach out to them?
To me, this story connects us to and reinforces several of the themes in Greg’s messages of the past few weeks. The kingdom of God advances when people are truly seen, affording opportunities for us to speak God’s love into their lives and for their deepest needs to be fulfilled. All people. Beggars and kings and everyone in between. Look around. At work, at school, at church, at home.
Also, we have a grand purpose. We are living out our days in community with others to represent the beauty, greatness, and majesty of our God to them. They need to see and experience what He is like. Do we know Him well enough to do that? Are we an accurate picture of our loving Father? Do our actions and words inform others of who He is and His intentions?
Tolstoy took the time to speak to a lowly man he happened upon. Moved with compassion but with nothing tangible to offer, he gave what he had. Words. Words are important. As image bearers, the words that come out of our mouths have the potential and the power to impact generations to come. Life and death are in the power of the tongue as are morsels and feasts. Sometimes we have more than words to share. Our generosity and hospitality, our actions, sometimes need to back up the words we speak.
It’s Valentine's Day as I write this. What a day to pause and consider folks in my sphere of influence who could use a reminder that they are dearly loved! Immediately, those of my sweet friends who are grieving incredible losses, those dear ones who are aging and alone, or those who live in relational nightmares come to mind. I have friends with devastating financial burdens, job losses or stresses, frightening illnesses, rebellious children, debilitating depression—pain and hurt abound. It’s not hard to identify and give special attention to these people.
Some folks, though just as needy, don’t come to mind so readily. They are our family and friends who are expert role players, mask wearers and wall builders. They are so good at hiding loneliness, brokenness, and pain that they often convince themselves that they are just fine. But how they hunger for love and kindness and acceptance like we all do! How precious is a kind word or understanding touch even to them. They may be starving. We need to listen closely to the Spirit’s directing in these cases.
And if you missed loving someone intentionally on Monday, February 14, take the time now to think of someone who would benefit from a timely word, an affectionate touch, a kind deed, or an encouraging note. There are any number of ways to share God’s love with others. Make the call, text the verse, drop off some soup, go out for coffee, visit the nursing home, baby sit a youngster, rake a yard, offer a ride...let the Spirit open your eyes to the isolation, neediness, pain, fear and brokenness of so many near us, the obvious and the not so obvious. Let them know they are seen, that they are not alone. Tell them or remind them of the God of perfect, unconditional, rescuing love. Let them see Him in your loving kindnesses toward them, words and actions.
Pastor Greg suggested we do this exact thing. He asked us to purposefully target three people and express kindness and love to them. Those of us who have so graciously been given His great love have much love to pour out by His Spirit. How selfish to hoard it! So, did you do it? Did you see somebody? Did you represent your Father well? Did you participate in His redemptive work? What did you do? I am sure you were blessed if you did—just as you were a blessing.
Wouldn’t it be cool if 300 of us from LFA took the challenge and demonstrated God’s love in some intentional way to three others this week? 900 folks in South Jersey and beyond would get a morsel or a feast! Incredible thought. I wonder what it would be like if just half of those given love and kindness then decided to pass it on too?
I think maybe the beggars everywhere would be dancing and singing.
And our Father would be smiling.
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men. 1 Thessalonians 3:12
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 NIV
Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other. John 13:34-35
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 1 John 3:11
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
—Eileen Hill
*Please be advised that this blog represents the views, opinions and beliefs of the writer and does not necessarily reflect those of our church leadership or denominational affiliation.