STOP AND SERVE

I remember the day it all changed. I was getting off my highway exit and at that light saw the homeless man with the sign. Usually, if I’m honest, I’d avoid any eye contact. I didn’t want Him to approach me asking for money, which might be used to support any addictions. Sitting there waiting for the light to change was an uncomfortable few moments. We’ve all been there.

I want to reach out and show Jesus love, to the hurting and the needy, how can I at this moment?

One day as I was sitting at the light that seemed to stay red forever, I saw Him. I felt such compassion as I usually did but this time I scrounged my car, looking for anything I could give to relieve His suffering. All I had was a Trader Joe’s bottle of water. So I looked at Him, he looked at me, as he started to approach me I rolled down my window.

“Would you like some water?”, I asked.

His eyes got real big and with excitement, he shouted, “Yes, ma’am. Thank You!!” I smiled back.

As I drove away, I felt so full of purpose. What was so small to me, meant the world to Him. At that moment, the Holy Spirit gave me an idea. To keep a case of water in my car. Then anytime I stop at a light and see the one in need holding their sign, offer them a bottle. More than that now, I also give them a kind word such as “Jesus loves you and has a great plan for your life.”

My hydrating the homeless ministry has become such a blessing to me as well because serving others is greater than serving yourself.

Sometimes we see the needs of the poor overwhelming or we are caught up in our own busyness that we don’t reach out in the most simple of ways. We all have an opportunity to show love to those in great need and what seems small to us is so great to those living in desperation.

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.” -Matthew 25

How can you stop and serve today?