Cardboard signs

On my way home from work last night I had to stop and fuel up my car. Getting off the freeway I was sitting at the light and noticed the man in a winter jacket and beanie holding a cardboard sign that read 'have a nice day'. I wasn't there but a few seconds, the light changed, and I was on my way.... but I was thinking about what Jesus said in Matthew 25:

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
   I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
(Matthew 25:36-40 ESV)

I was thinking about some of the excuses I've heard (and I've used) for not helping one of these people that brave busy intersections.

-"He's probably just a con man. I heard about a study once where they found out some of these guys make like $60,000 a year!"

-"If I give them money, they'll probably just go buy booz with it."

-"Get a job, buddy."

There are plenty of religious reasons to not help these people, and if we're being real.... whats the difference between a panhandler buying cheap vodka with a few dollars given to him to support his habbit and me buying coffee, chocolate, beer, music, etc. etc. etc. to support my own habbit? Just because I have a job doesn't justify money spent.

So I have an idea that I will keep some sort of 'care package' in my car. Not sure exactly what all will be apart of this package, but it will be something like gift card(s) to local fast food places, some water bottles, and maybe some sort of protein bars. I will also arm myself with knowledge of community centers and church/ministries that provide temporary shelter, clothing, and meals for people. And I would imagine some genuine conern and a few kind comments would go a long way!

So next time I see the cardboard sign, maybe I can look through it to see an person (with a soul) created in God's image who could use a little help. Who knows what providing a burger, a solution to a temporary need, can do to point a person towards Christ?

 

 

 

 

Fear

Francis Chan is a church leader that I respect and admire very much. He has a video series called Basic (BASICseries.com). I watched the first one in that series this morning called Fear God. He talks about how people (he mentions Isaiah and the apostle John when he see's Christ in His glorified state) react when seeing God... Isaiah feared for his life, John litterally fell on his face....

The modern church has watered down this idea of 'fear'... deluding it to more of a 'respect' or 'in-awe-of' type of idea. As Chan says, this is not the type of fear we read about see in the Bible.

So what kind of fear of God do you have?

Do you fear Him at all?

Is the idea of 'fearing' God beneath you? Do you feel this is more of an Old Testament thing?

Do you feel God is your 'friend', therefore you dont' have to fear Him?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
        all those who practice it have a good understanding.
        His praise endures forever!
 (Psalm 111:10 ESV)