Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God.
3 John 1:5-6 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, my heart was pricked by the show of love that the young man and his wife showed towards my family and me yesterday at the restaurant. We were strangers but he engaged as in a manner that was glorious, different, than I have been engaged before. They showed us Your love in a tangible way, something I have tried to demonstrate in my living. Through them You flipped the script on me and made me the recipient of it. As I reflect upon that short encounter, my soul aches for there was so much that was left unsaid. Oh, for another chance.
As I walk into this new workweek I am mindful that You will bring many folks in my direction, some of whom I do not know, strangers. Your call to me is clear: love. Period. I cannot, must not, be so consumed with what is going on in my life that I miss an opportunity to spread Your love to someone in a real and tangible way. Yes, I am wrestling through some issues. Yes, I have things I am taking care of in my life. Yes, there are things that I know You are calling me to accomplish. Yet, nothing is more important than for me to demonstrate Your love in a tangible way in the lives of those whom You bring into my path. Master, that is the calling. It all points towards me showing someone that You are love in the flesh!
So today, open my eyes to those around me. Help me to see them as You see them. Show me their needs and that one place in their lives where You are looking to squeeze them tightly in Your arms that they might know that You are loving them through me. Use me as Your open-door invitation to a love fest bought and catered by Your sacrifice. I want to love up on somebody who feels alone and unseen so that they may know that You see them and love them.
Thank You for using me to be that vessel. I remove “me” that I might be used by You to Your glory. Amen.