There are many situations that a Christian can easily embarrass themselves in. But so what? When I consider Christ, I can recount many times I would have been embarrassed to do what He did. There are two things I can remember about Christ that will strengthen me when visiting the shut-in or those in the hospital.
Christ had a PURPOSE from the beginning.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
We too as Christians have a purpose. Not only to preach the Gospel, but also to encourage and edify those who are in need. Many times we visit Christians that are in need of comfort and those who are in need of strength. Hardly ever has one turned away a brother or sister in time of need. Whether it be bringing food or just a simple hello, we must have purpose in what we do. The shut-ins need fellowship and those in the hospital or sick at home need to know that we care.
Christ came not to do His own will, but to do the will of the Father.
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Christians were given an example by Christ, to live according to the will of the Father and to please Him in all things. Doing the will of the Father in the area of benevolence many times takes us before strangers but it must be done. It is scary to walk into an unknown environment concerning our brothers and sisters in need, but remember what the Hebrews writer wrote: 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. So what about those that we do not know? Strangers will appreciate what you do even if you hardly say anything. Listen and care for people. Sit with people. Just be there. It’s not what you say, but the fact that you were there that communicates concern and love. A prayer is always appropriate, as is letting them know that others are praying for them and their situation.
We must have purpose in visiting also understanding it may not be what I want to do, but it is part of the will of the Father. Always keep Matthew 25:31-46 on your mind, not because you fear hell, but because we see a stranger as having a soul. And when they hurt we hurt, so we care and show it, because that’s what Christ did.
~ Glen
