We are privileged to have a Guest Contributor this Wednesday.
Jamie Martin.
I met Jamie in May of 2004, I believe it was – one of Jerry’s Youth at Myers Memorial Baptist Church in Eight Mile, Alabama. Since then I have come to love her dearly, watching her grow more and more in love with JESUS and ministering more and more to people.
Please read attentively what she has to say.
So yesterday Heather and I went downtown to help feed the homeless with One Meal. Right as we were coming off of the connector, we saw a guy holding a sign that said “just hungry”. I told Heather we should tell him they were about to serve a free meal around the corner, so while at the red light, I cracked my window and told him. While we were pulling away, I said “let’s see if he comes. I doubt it”.
Well as we were pulling off I thought I saw someone stop to pick him up. Come to find out the “one meal” coordinator had stopped to tell the guy about the free meal and offered a ride. Well, as soon as I saw him, my heart sank. Who am I to judge that man?!?! Here I am, on my way to serve these people and show them God’s love and having a negative attitude without even realizing it. Judging whether or not I think the man’s cardboard sign was telling me the truth. So what?!? Who am I that I think he owes me even the truth?!?
When he came through the line for the third time (I guess he was “just hungry for what it’s worth now), all we had left were beans. He walked up and held the plate out and stood there until the plate couldn’t hold anymore. He thanked us and as he walked away he said “These will help me keep warm tonight”. At that point God just kind of slapped me…hard. :) He basically was saying how can you expect me to use you as I intend when you are letting human thoughts creep in and slander my people. God calls us to see people as He sees people. Love as He loves. And what did I do? The exact opposite. EVEN IF his sign was lying and he was just trying to get an easy buck, SO WHAT! It’s not up to me. Nothing is. It’s not about me and my opinions.
Just that morning I taught a Bible Study class on Romans 10. A portion of our lesson was this–“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”. Okay, I know that’s talking about salvation, but we all are God’s workmanship. All of us. Homeless or not. Black or white. Hispanic or Asian. American or not (this could be a whole other thing! Maybe I’ll post that later).
My point is I had just had a reminder of why I do what I do. To show God’s love to ALL people. God doesn’t favor one over the other. We all have the opportunity to be adopted into His family. How can I correctly portray His love and think the way I did towards that man? I’ll end here, because I am rambling a bit, BUT let’s all try to check ourselves before serving others. Are we showing God’s love? Or are we showing human love which will most likely fail?
I just couldn’t stop thinking about him and still haven’t.
And all God’s People said, Amen!
Thank You, ABBA, for Jamie. Thank You for the message You have given her. Thank You for the privilege of sharing it here. Be glorified, LORD, and grow us in Your likeness as we meditate upon these words. Briefly here we bring those we love whose names are recorded at Praying for These and our IDOK Troops, praying for You to be glorified in us all. Praying for revival; praying to be prepared to minister; praying for our families to be redeemed in JESUS name. Amen and amen.
Kathie
Until Then – Let this be our Theme Song!!
