One woman ended up joining us as we sang and you could just tell her whole heart was into it. Her face lit up during every song and clapped for us as we finished up. As we were heading out of that area, members of my church were wishing the people there a Merry Christmas and giving the great big hugs. Then it just really hit me. This was a light of the love of Christ. My mom didn’t know these people, my pastor didn’t know these people, and I didn’t know these people. But what is important is that God knows them, and He created them and they are all loved by Him. He loves every single person I encountered today, and I realized even more how great the love of God is that He has lavished on us. So, as my heart is being shaped by God, I realized a few things. To truly imitate Christ, I have to step outside of my comfort zone, which would have been just singing, saying Merry Christmas, and leaving it at that. But that wouldn’t be enough. Jesus didn’t come here to just chill and sit inside a safe and comfortable bubble. Christ came to earth to serve us not to be served; therefore we also must serve others and love them just as Christ loves each and every one of us. I felt the cross dangling around my neck and remembered the one who lived and died for me, and this life I’m living must be all for Him. So, I walked towards the woman, who sang with us and gave her a big hug and introduced myself to her, and the floodgates of God’s love just overwhelmed me, and I wanted to pour it out on all the folks there! Words cannot truly describe the amount of joy from God that I felt today. To shorten it up, at this first nursing home, it was such a blessing to see many of them singing along with us, talking with us and just simply smiling. We left gospels of John there as well, the best gift of the gospel and hopefully shone the love of Jesus through our actions based from our faith in Him.
After, we had the chance to go to a second nursing home! And again, so many opportunities arose to show God’s love to these folks and we took them. Again and again the Lord helped me love everyone I saw and hugged them because they are a beloved child of God. Tears welled up in some of the beautiful eyes of the elderly folk we met at the nursing home because they were so blessed that we came and sang to them. It wasn’t on their daily calendars and thought it was such a wonderful surprise. It almost seems silly that I thought they wouldn’t want us to be there. We must share with God’s people who are in need and practice hospitality! (Romans 12:13) In a class recently, a partner and I studied the practice of hospitality, and it was amazing to legitimately feel the welcoming of strangers in a community even if it wasn’t for a long period of time. We went there as a church body to love the people at the nursing homes, to be hospitable and caring towards them, shining the light of Jesus Christ. But unlike the other times I had gone caroling, I felt completely welcomed into their community as well. Not that the other times I had gone to nursing homes, the people weren’t welcoming and grateful, but I was apparently not as open to giving and receiving from them. So many verses are running through my head right now on how to love others as ourselves, to love others as our brothers and sister and how Jesus has loved us and how God has welcomed us, who once were strangers, into His family.
Looking back at all the events of my day, which going to the nursing homes (losing my voice) was just one aspect of, I really see that taking time out of my day for someone else is a huge blessing. God has given us all time, so how are we gonna use it? Use this time He has blessed you with for Him. And because lord of the rings is so great, a quote that relates so well…“I wish it need not have happened in my time.” Says Frodo (when thinking of all the evil in the journey ahead) to which the wise old Gandalf replies, “So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” We can’t argue with the time given to us, because God has blessed us by giving us every minute of our lives. We have to live our lives out for Him, learning from His word, and growing in faith with a community of believers. The amazing news of the gospel has to be transforming our lives daily. We must imitate Christ and share His unconditional love with all His children! And how do we imitate Christ? I was going to try and paraphrase this, but nothing beats the word of God:
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” – Amen! (Philippians 2:1-11)
So just a couple of challenges for both of us; and I ask that you keep me accountable to these things. Reflect daily on just how amazing our God is. The One who loves us no matter what we have done, the One that has created everything perfectly the way it should be and the One who knows exactly what He is doing even when we feel like everything is going wrong. I’ve learned a lot today, and I want to constantly remember how great God’s love for us is every single second of my life! Also, remember it is far greater to give than to receive. But also humbling to receive and to be served from those you may least expect. Take time out of your day for others, and follow God daily. Be intentional with relationships and very intentional in your relationship with God. Taking just a moment out of my day today for others changed my heart and joy burst forth. We may not have a lot to offer God, but we must offer all that we have to Him, for it is all His to begin with. Praise Him, His love endures forever!
Praying for you, my friend. Set your eyes on Him. Shine for Jesus! :)
In Christ,
Heather
And as the great hymn sings
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
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