Sitting at my desk a few years back I heard a noise at the door of the church. I got up and walked outside to find a cute little yellow bird sitting there on the porch with a dazed look in his eye and his little beak open as if to say…Ouch, that hurt! He had obviously done a head first pile driver into the glass door. I approached him and he even let me pick him up! He was still a little groggy and disoriented of course. I turned around to show Terri my new little friend when she warned me, don’t point him back toward the window because if he comes to himself and realizes where he is in your hands he’s liable to fly right back into the door again. WOW! There is a lot of wisdom in that thought. Did you ever stop to think how we try to help the hurting people that come our way? I mean those who are gliding along through life and suddenly fly headfirst into something very tragic and unexpected like death, divorce, disease, loss of a career or anything else that just knocks the wind out of their sails, and God leads us to them in their time of need. When we cradle them up in our spiritual hands, which direction do we point them? What is the safest and most effective direction we can suggest to them?
First of all lets point them to the safety of Gods love. We can all remember as Christians the first time someone beckoned us with the beautiful truth that God Loves us. We saw it in their lives, their words and their actions. We saw it in their integrity and honesty before men. We saw it in their compassion and Godly love for those who were undeserving of it. We saw it in their Love for God himself, as they trusted Him with every aspect of their lives. They modeled Gods Love, do we? Jude writes “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Secondly, lets point them to the safety of Gods strength and power. The Apostle John reminds us, “because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Whatever they are facing, whatever has knocked them down is no match for God and his ability and strength. As they behold our lives as we face adversity and strife with a heart that is well assured that “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it” Phil 1:6. As those who are hurting see that in us, we are pointing them to Gods strength and Power. It is good to be reminded that as bad as it can get, God handles problems just like theirs every day. Thirdly lets point them to the safety of Gods word. In the Bible they will find everything they could ever need when it comes to Gods help and presence in time of trouble. From the comforting words of the Psalms to the practical truths for living in James this book is truly the right direction for them. It is said that when the famous missionary, Dr. David Livingstone, started his trek across Africa he had 73 books in 3 packs, weighing 180 pounds. After the party had gone 300 miles, Livingstone was obliged to throw away some of the books because of the fatigue of those carrying his baggage. As he continued on his journey his library grew less and less, until he had but one book left--his Bible. There is no greater help than Gods word. Lastly Lets point them to the safety of the church. Gods people who Love him and are willing to take the time to reach out to those who are devastated by the effects of sin in the world. Jesus reminds us in Matt 25: 34-40 “then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungered and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in: Naked and ye clothed me: I was sick and you visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we the an hungered and fed thee? Or thirsty and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in? or naked and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick or in prison and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” That sounds to me like practical help for real needs. Just common sense service to those who are hurting and broken. Whatever season of the year we find ourselves in I am sure we all will come into contact with real people and families with real needs. It is our calling and duty to point those in need to a Savior who is able to help, and Christians who care enough to Love them in Jesus name. Lets make sure we point the bruised and dazed lives we touch in the right direction. Remember, someone did the same for you and for me. The names are different in each of our lives but the Sutor Hoople’s, the Don Humble’s, Richard Jordan’s and others who touched and shaped me were real men of God. Now it falls to me, and to you to be that kind of influence in those we meet and influence. My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done; Leave countless marks for good or ill, ere sets the evening sun. This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray: Lord, may my life help other lives it touches by the way. I heard Mike Huckabee say recently, "Far too many leaders today, both in government and in the church, are really thermometers when we are in desperate need of thermostats." A thermometer reflects the temperature in the room good or bad while a thermostat adjusts the temperature to what it should be. Let’s change the temperature, what do you say?
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