Dr. Robi's sermon yesterday on how we treat the least among us got me reflecting on a few things. His emphasis was on how recklessly we take advantage of children in our own community and those away from us. Emerging in the way we are slow to respond to the plight of children trafficked, abused and neglected and sometimes those in positions of influence do nothing about making the life of the child safer. I thought of those who are less fortunate than we are, the beggars on the streets, the addicts both to drink and drugs or those we see around us looking low & depressed. Most of us hardly take notice i don't mean you necessarily have to do anything - it would be great if you could! But do we ever spare even a thought for the predicament that they may be in, situations beyond their control have made them captive to something that has gripped their soul that it is impossible for them to see the light, have we ever thought what it would be like if we were in the place that they are in, and then in compassion said a prayer or given a helping hand or simply loved them!
Am reminded of what Proverbs says, that when we give to the poor, we are lending to God, Jesus says in the gospels that what we do to any child we do unto him, when we clothe the naked, help the weak, visit those in distress we are doing it unto him, no where does it say that if we did it to christians in need we were doing it to him although the New Testament says we ought to give a helping hand first to those of his household! Still that does not exempt those outside 'the pen' so to speak. The bible says God causes the sun to shine on both the wicked and the godly so to whoever we show love or compassion we do it to the father, how amazing is that!
Recently i was in a situation where i had to take care of a child who is disavanteged nothing of his own making and it required such patience and grace, sometimes i found myself losing the plot and i kept wondering why he did not do things the way they ought to be done, i caught myself a number of times on the edge of running out of patience and boy was i ashamed, so ashamed that i literally cried to God because i had missed the point, i was meant to be a courier of God's love & patience and all that he is and i had fallen short. I started to realise that this boy was God's child, his handiwork and even though things were not the same with him, God the father still loved him immensely but also in what soever way i reacted to him i was doing it unto Jesus, that put me straight!
I am so inspired by one of my sisters who loves Michael . W. Smith he sings a song about entertaining angels unaware from which i have borrowed the title for this note. How true that is , whoever we meet in every situation be it people we do not agree with, or people we secretly despise or those we cannot in anyway get a long with, they are still God's creation and the beggar we might pass on the street might be an angel hoping that you would spare a minute for him, not just practically but also with compassion. God will test whatever we claim as Christians in any way that he can.
Spare a thought, give some love today, open your heart, practice compassion, forgive, act deligently in love and response, do not judge people who are less fortunate than you, be willing to give, sow a seed Ecclesiastes 11 says spread your grain on many waters and it will come back to you. Make every opportunity a time to help, to sow a seed, to change a life give generously because where we are ultimately going we will have no need of what we have!! We learn to be careful with our words, when we hear stories of peolpe that have committed suicide or think of those who have lost their mind, we are gracious towards them because they didn't have the chance to find help, sometimes people are not as strong as we think they ought to be!
Remember it is by grace that we have been saved nothing of our own doing, but his love and mercy! Do not forget to be good to whoever you meet, you just never know.....you might be entertaining an angel, and friend am certain you do not want to fail that test....for all you know it could be Jesus himself!!:)
Phoebe
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