A Vessel of Solace and Transformation
Often times I have walked the streets and come into contact with people from all walks of life. Some with sad faces, haunted faces, distressed faces and so on. It is easy to go on with your life and mind your business and live in your perfect little life of peace and tranquility. I have come to know that sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zone to impact a life that needs our help. Hebrews 13:1-2 says....."Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
Yes, as much as we have our own problems that we like to attend to, we need to give a listening ear to anyone who needs it. James 1:27 says....." Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." The haunted faces we see on our trip to the grocery store , the sad faces we come across on the subway and the homeless person you always pass by, all need your attention. A smile here, a kind word there, an invitation to church, a donation here and a supportive comment there all goes a long way to impact change and provide a brief means of solace to a person in distress.
Sometimes in our attempt to show kindness to our neighbor or a person, we encounter all sorts of opposition from friends. Some will point out your own problems and even state a few reasons why that person should not benefit from your concern. In Matthew 19:13-15, we are told of how the disciples were hindering Jesus from blessing the children but He rebuked them and told them to allow them to come to him. 1 Corinthians 10:24 says..." No one should seek their own good, but the good of others." Yes we all do have problems but someone has to go out and be kind and compassionate to those who need it most.
We owe it to ourselves as Christians to be vessels of solace, hope and transformation to those who are trapped in a state of despair and dysfunction. You can be a walking rehabilitation center by your kind words of hope and encouragement. Not everyone needs to check into a rehab center. We all in our very own way can be a point of contact for hope and transformation. 1 Peter 3:8 says....."Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble."
Also, in as much as we like to preach and rebuke those with unacceptable unchristian-like behaviors, we should also keep in mind that we have no idea of conditions that led to such behavior. We should rather embrace that person with love and unprejudiced mindset so we can change. Luke 19:1-10 tells us of the transformation of Zacchaeus the tax collector because of the way Jesus approached him without prejudice. Luke 5: 31-32 ...." Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Let us remember that that the church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners. The church is also a place of solace for those in distress. Be a vessel of solace and transformation.
