Skip to main content

What Would Jesus Do?





A comb hadn’t touched his hair for days. Or so it seemed. It appeared he had been wearing the same clothes for weeks. As my car pulled closer, I glanced at this stranger who held a sign and I kept going.  My ten year old son said “Mom, he needs help.” I responded “I don’t have any money.”

This event began a discussion with my son that has impacted not only him but me.  He went on to tell me that though we didn’t have money, we could still give him something.  Then he asked the question that caused my head to hang in shame and I was instantly convicted.  He asked “What would Jesus do?”

In the book of Matthew, Jesus says that whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. (Matt. 25: 40-45)

How many times have we prayed to be the hands and feet of Jesus and yet, when given an opportunity, we let it pass us by?

This wanderer’s face has replayed in my mind as I think about how I completely ignored him. I justified it by telling myself he was probably a swindler and couldn’t be trusted.  The truth is there are  many people in this world who are dishonest and making a living off of it.  But, can’t we still be generous and show love in other ways than giving money? Can’t we tell of the good news that God loves them and offer a warm meal?

I’ve heard it said that we’re all just one paycheck away from homelessness.  If this is true, the next person on the street could one day be me or you.

How many times have we overlooked the needy trying to fulfill our own “needs”? I have more times than I can count. My selfishness will cause me to have tunnel vision where my only focus is my own desires.  We want to be showered with blessings without being inconvenienced.  When all the while, the greatest blessings come when we bless others.

My family has learned a valuable lesson from this man.  One he will never know he taught us. He’s given more to us than we did to him. As we encounter people who seem to be less fortunate, let’s show them kindness and spread God’s love. Let’s step out of our own comfort zones to help bring comfort to others. After all, isn’t that what Jesus would do?

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of this life.  Thank you for the privileges we are given that we take for granted.  Open our eyes to the people who are hurting and need you.  Help us not to pass the buck but to embrace every opportunity you give us to be your hands and feet.  Forgive us for our selfishness and help us to be more like you.  Break our heart for what breaks yours.  In Jesus' name, Amen. 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seasons of Life

  “Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love? Can the child within my heart rise above? Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life?”   Stevie Nicks wrote these lyrics in 1973. I have listened to Landslide more times than I can count, and each time it hits right in the gut. It’s a song about change. About fear, love, aging, and the quiet questions we all carry as life keeps moving forward.   As   I listened again recently, with the end of another year approaching, I found myself reflecting on the last twelve months. This has been a year! I’m not even sure what adjective fits best. Crazy maybe. Long. Unexpected.   Sometimes life throws so many curveballs at such an accelerated speed, all you can do is try to keep up so they don’t knock you down.   2025 has been filled with a plethora of lessons in love, humility , fear, doubt, grief, and joy. They didn’t all come easy. But then again, we were never promised easy.   In fa...
Post a Comment
Read more

I Waited.

  I beckoned you to come near, but my way didn’t look like what you wanted.   The lights of the night drew you in, Pulling you into dark corners.   I waited.   You searched for acceptance   in people with empty promises and hollow souls.     You longed for love, not realizing it was mine you needed all along.   I waited.   You turned toward me in moments in need, in fear but each time, you pulled back thinking the distance was too great to cross.   I waited.   The end of your rope seemed to get longer.   Still, I waited.   Your choices led to pain. Things once whole began to fall apart.  What you held onto slipped through your hands.   I was there. I waited.   Then, gently, I opened your eyes to what you had been chasing And your heart to what had been chasing you all along.     And when you finally stopped running There I was,   exactly where I had always been. Waiting.  
Post a Comment
Read more

Journey with God

Did you know there’s a bird famous for holding the world record for the longest nonstop flight from Alaska all the way to Australia? It traveled over 8,000 miles in just 11 days! I stumbled upon an article about the Bar-tailed Godwit while mindlessly scrolling through Facebook, and I’ll admit, I didn’t know anything about this bird before. These fascinating shorebirds escape the harsh winter for warmer climates. My first thought was, why don’t they just stop somewhere closer along the way? According to experts, stopping earlier often means landing in places with less food, more competition and predators, and poor habitats for their long bills. The Godwit’s long nonstop flight reduces these dangers. Even more impressive, these birds begin preparing for their expedition several weeks in advance. They don’t need to eat during their journey because they gorge for 1 to 2 months before departure, building up fat reserves. A few weeks before migration, their digestive organs shrink to reduce ...
Post a Comment
Read more