Show AND Tell
The diaper sagged.
Filled with urine, it resembled a yellow balloon taped to the child’s bottom. I noticed it immediately, but said nothing. It was in my heart to, but we were saying other things.
“Jesus loves you,” we told the child’s grandmother as we handed out loaves of bread and tuna in one of Lexington’s low-income neighborhoods.
We were witnessing: telling people about Jesus Christ, his death, burial and resurrection – and what that means to us today.
We walked the neighborhood knocking on doors, handing out food and telling them, “Jesus loves you.” Or, “Be blessed.
At one of the last stops, we met a grandmother raising two grandchildren. She refused the bread and tuna. But, she talked with us a while and I noticed one child’s diaper. She asked about our church. She told us about her life. She introduced the two children. And, she told us she’d been looking for a church home.
We talked with her longer than anyone else and we left saying, “Jesus loves you.”
But, something kept nagging at me: Jesus never saw a need and walked past it. He never had a feel-good ministry where he walked about pretending to care for people, but never meeting their immediate needs. Jesus didn’t have to go around saying, “God loves you” or “Be blessed,” because his love showed through his actions and he gave of himself so that others might be blessed.
James 2:15-16 speaks to this.
It says, “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?”
That morning, I realized I’d done just that. I’d told this woman of Jesus’ love, but done nothing to show it to her. So, I went back.
I took a friend back to the woman’s home and we asked if there was any way we could SHOW her the love of Christ. We explained that Christianity wasn’t about telling people about Jesus. It’s about being Christ-like and showing his love.
It turns out she did need diapers, but the child’s mother had “finally” dropped them off that morning. Still, she needed food. At first, she refused our help. She didn’t want to take money from us, but in the end, she did. We talked with her for a while, and learned more about her life. We encouraged her, and she us. Then, we left.
All week long, this thing gnawed in my spirit: we’ve got to show compassion, love and gentleness to others.
We got another opportunity some time later.
A woman sat in Sunday school with an awesome testimony. She spoke of her love for Christ, how he was her man. She said she could sense him, spell him and that she glowed in his presence. She spoke of this incredible infatuation with Christ. It blew our minds. A few minutes later, she did it again.
The minister teaching Sunday school was praising God he’s never slept in a car or been homeless. At this point, her hand shot up again.
“I have slept in my car,” she said.
And, “I’ve been homeless.”
She went on to praise God for keeping her safe while getting into the car, sleeping inside and for allowing her to some out safely the next day. Her wondrous praise in the midst of woe wow-ed. Many walked up to her afterward – and thanked her for sharing that story. Then, they walked away.
I was amazed.
No one asked is she had need of anything. No one asked if she now had a place to stay. I waited, however, and asked.
She doesn’t.
She’s staying with her brother while she looks for work and a place to live. Health problems make this difficult, she said, but she’s better off now than at the Salvation Army. We got her info and passed it on to our missionary group. Prayerfully, we’ll be able to help in some way.
Today, I’d like to challenge us to have “ears that hear” and “eyes that see” the needs of others. Let’s not walk past children with sagging diapers and do nothing. Let’s not hear someone talk about homelessness and not inquire whether or not they have any needs we can meet. There are so many people who need to know the love of Christ, but they don’t need to hear about it. They need to see it.
And, there are so many ways to show it to them.
One church locally decided to buy gas cards and stand at local gas stations handing them out for free. Everyone’s hurting over high gas prices, and this is their way of meeting the needs of others. They’re not necessarily preaching about Christ. They’re just showing Christ.
We can too.
Next time we hear a mother with five children say, “I’m so tired. I need a break,+ - offer to give her a few hours alone. Or, if you know of someone not working, make sure their electric or water bill is paid. It doesn’t matter what we do, let’s just do something to SHOW the love of Christ.
Listen for ways.
Be attentive.
And hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. Then, follow through.
Sometimes that means sacrifice. A friend once canceled her hair appointment and gave me $50 to pay my electric bill. The friend who went with me to re-visit that grandmother nearly took half of what was in her account to help this woman. And that’s what the love of Christ is sincerely about: sacrifice.
He gave his life that we might live- eternally.
Know that I love you each, L.
PS – Write me if you hear or see a way to show God’s love this week.
Double PS – And don’t walk past it. MEET the need.
Filled with urine, it resembled a yellow balloon taped to the child’s bottom. I noticed it immediately, but said nothing. It was in my heart to, but we were saying other things.
“Jesus loves you,” we told the child’s grandmother as we handed out loaves of bread and tuna in one of Lexington’s low-income neighborhoods.
We were witnessing: telling people about Jesus Christ, his death, burial and resurrection – and what that means to us today.
We walked the neighborhood knocking on doors, handing out food and telling them, “Jesus loves you.” Or, “Be blessed.
At one of the last stops, we met a grandmother raising two grandchildren. She refused the bread and tuna. But, she talked with us a while and I noticed one child’s diaper. She asked about our church. She told us about her life. She introduced the two children. And, she told us she’d been looking for a church home.
We talked with her longer than anyone else and we left saying, “Jesus loves you.”
But, something kept nagging at me: Jesus never saw a need and walked past it. He never had a feel-good ministry where he walked about pretending to care for people, but never meeting their immediate needs. Jesus didn’t have to go around saying, “God loves you” or “Be blessed,” because his love showed through his actions and he gave of himself so that others might be blessed.
James 2:15-16 speaks to this.
It says, “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?”
That morning, I realized I’d done just that. I’d told this woman of Jesus’ love, but done nothing to show it to her. So, I went back.
I took a friend back to the woman’s home and we asked if there was any way we could SHOW her the love of Christ. We explained that Christianity wasn’t about telling people about Jesus. It’s about being Christ-like and showing his love.
It turns out she did need diapers, but the child’s mother had “finally” dropped them off that morning. Still, she needed food. At first, she refused our help. She didn’t want to take money from us, but in the end, she did. We talked with her for a while, and learned more about her life. We encouraged her, and she us. Then, we left.
All week long, this thing gnawed in my spirit: we’ve got to show compassion, love and gentleness to others.
We got another opportunity some time later.
A woman sat in Sunday school with an awesome testimony. She spoke of her love for Christ, how he was her man. She said she could sense him, spell him and that she glowed in his presence. She spoke of this incredible infatuation with Christ. It blew our minds. A few minutes later, she did it again.
The minister teaching Sunday school was praising God he’s never slept in a car or been homeless. At this point, her hand shot up again.
“I have slept in my car,” she said.
And, “I’ve been homeless.”
She went on to praise God for keeping her safe while getting into the car, sleeping inside and for allowing her to some out safely the next day. Her wondrous praise in the midst of woe wow-ed. Many walked up to her afterward – and thanked her for sharing that story. Then, they walked away.
I was amazed.
No one asked is she had need of anything. No one asked if she now had a place to stay. I waited, however, and asked.
She doesn’t.
She’s staying with her brother while she looks for work and a place to live. Health problems make this difficult, she said, but she’s better off now than at the Salvation Army. We got her info and passed it on to our missionary group. Prayerfully, we’ll be able to help in some way.
Today, I’d like to challenge us to have “ears that hear” and “eyes that see” the needs of others. Let’s not walk past children with sagging diapers and do nothing. Let’s not hear someone talk about homelessness and not inquire whether or not they have any needs we can meet. There are so many people who need to know the love of Christ, but they don’t need to hear about it. They need to see it.
And, there are so many ways to show it to them.
One church locally decided to buy gas cards and stand at local gas stations handing them out for free. Everyone’s hurting over high gas prices, and this is their way of meeting the needs of others. They’re not necessarily preaching about Christ. They’re just showing Christ.
We can too.
Next time we hear a mother with five children say, “I’m so tired. I need a break,+ - offer to give her a few hours alone. Or, if you know of someone not working, make sure their electric or water bill is paid. It doesn’t matter what we do, let’s just do something to SHOW the love of Christ.
Listen for ways.
Be attentive.
And hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. Then, follow through.
Sometimes that means sacrifice. A friend once canceled her hair appointment and gave me $50 to pay my electric bill. The friend who went with me to re-visit that grandmother nearly took half of what was in her account to help this woman. And that’s what the love of Christ is sincerely about: sacrifice.
He gave his life that we might live- eternally.
Know that I love you each, L.
PS – Write me if you hear or see a way to show God’s love this week.
Double PS – And don’t walk past it. MEET the need.
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