I am amazed recently by the number of people who are requesting prayers from other believers. Yes, I know that we are to love one another and help one another, but day after day I am confronted by people who are asking for specific prayers. Moreover, I am moved by the folks who take every chance they have to reach out and tell others about the good news of Jesus Christ.
I recently spoke with a senior level executive who went on a hunting trip and didn’t think he had done enough to reach out to a non-believer during their time together. Even though this executive didn’t know the young man from New York, he felt compelled to consider traveling out east just to have the time to present the Gospel message to this troubled young man. I admire that.
And more times than not, when I sit down to lunch with someone, we say grace. It’s not like they think that since I am in ministry we have to say grace each meal; they just think that it is something we should do. I admire that also. After all, it’s so easy to fall out of the habit of honoring God in the things that we do.
Today, I was in the process of asking a contractor about plowing the snow at our old home. I was a little concerned because the day had come and gone and still the snow was piled high in the driveway and on the front walk. I finally texted him asking for an estimated time to get the driveway done and when he responded, he let me know that he had experienced a family emergency and had been out of town – returning today. I asked about the issue and he wrote me back, asking for prayer for his father-in-law, who was mugged in Baton Rouge, LA. He was beat up pretty severely and is in a neuro trauma ICU unit fighting for his life this evening.
I just can’t fathom all the violence in the world these days. It seems like we are hearing more and more about shootings on campuses across the country and other extreme acts of violence. Social scientists are at a loss to tell us why all these things are happening, but they are happening…
So tonight, our verse for the evening comes from the author of Hebrews. He reminds us to reach out to one another and stay in community together. We are told, in Heb. 10:24-25, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” My encouragement is that God wants each of us to reach out to someone else – loving them well and doing deeds of kindness. And you never know when you will be on the receiving end of that type of kindness. One thing is for sure – we will all have need of someone reaching out to us throughout the difficult times of our lives. My prayer is for the gentleman laying in intensive care this evening – fighting for his life as a result of an unnecessary act of violence. Please join me in asking for God’s grace on his life. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…