A NEW ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS
15th Oct 2014
A pastor friend of ours felt she needed a new encounter with Jesus. We can all become entrapped in the “same old routine” syndrome, and she knew she wanted a new awareness of His heart. Matthew 25:31-45 speaks of the marginalised people in our society, who we so easily ignore and about whom Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
So my pastor friend set out for Berlin, stayed in a hostel and joined the queue of people waiting to be fed at a homeless shelter. She stood alongside many who had nothing but the clothes they were wearing. One man shared with her that he was an alcoholic, a vodka addict, and proceeded to explain how he stole bottles in order to satisfy his habit! The waiting was endless and then just as the door of the feeding station was in view it closed, and they were told to wait, and wait they did.
Our friend continued her conversation and found herself telling her new friend that God considered him valuable, even if most people labeled him worthless. His response made her laugh. “Yes” he said, “I know that, the problem is no-one else does!
Eventually they entered the refuge where they could sit and receive food and shelter. She spent hours talking, laughing and simply being with some of the most marginalised people in society, and during this time she met Jesus, and He released compassion and care into her heart. Every human being is valuable to God, He desires to heal the wounds and life scars that have brought people to rock bottom. He wants to soften our hearts so we see people not just as “cases”.
We can’t change the world overnight, but we ourselves can be changed as we see Jesus and touch His heart, realise every person He created is precious, however damaged they are by life’s circumstance and choices.
Here is a song, that we can turn into a prayer:
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart
Teach me to love with your heart of compassion
Teach me to move in the power of your Spirit
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart
Written by Graham Kendrick
by Joyce Sibthorpe
