A VEHICLE OF COMPASSION -- Part III

Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God's, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors. (Deuteronomy 15:10-11, MSG).

Monday, June 13, 2011

While stopped at the traffic signal, I could see her through my side view mirror, walking through the lanes, waving at a few drivers.  No one was responsive to her plea for help.

During my commute to and from Downtown Atlanta, it is not uncommon for me to be approached by a woman or man pleading for food or money, so I assumed she was waving at cars to make such a request.  Before she approached my car, I opened my armrest console and grabbed my sandwich bag full of Honey Nut Cheerios.

Prepared to be generous, I rolled down my window and offered the woman 2 cups of a whole grain, naturally flavored, cholesterol-lowering, nutritious breakfast cereal.

But where’s the milk?

I eat these dry all the time.

Can you buy me breakfast?

This is what I’m prepared to give you.  They taste good!

She rejected my help because she couldn’t eat cereal without milk.  Outwardly, I identified with the hungry woman because she was a direct reflection of my ethnicity and gender.  Inwardly, I was totally baffled as to why a hungry person would refuse a free meal.

"You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want." (John 5:39-40, MSG).

Life is challenging because we overlook God’s blessings simply because their delivery is not packaged the way we envision.  Life is good because a close encounter with Jesus removes the scales from our eyes, and we receive sight to see Him standing right in front of us.  (Acts 9:18, NIV; John 5:39-40, MSG).  Life is abundant because Jesus is always prepared and willing to give us the life we desire.  (John 5:40, MSG).

Dear God:

All day long I’ve been puzzled by a response from a 15-second exchange.

How could she turn and walk away from a blessing?

I imagine You’ve made this same statement about me on countless occasions.  Although You appear at every intersection of life’s journey, I haven’t always accepted Your help.

How many times have I approached a blessing, rejected Your offer of new life and walked away?

How many times have You said ‘Malkia, taste and see that the LORD is good,’ and I willfully chose to starve?  (Psalm 34:8, NIV).

Yet, because of Your great love for me, I am not consumed, Your compassions never fail.  (Lamentations 3:22, NIV).  Thanks for not rejecting me, O God!  Thanks for saving me, Jesus!

As I continue to navigate this Christian journey, give me the visual range to recognize You.  Strengthen my commitment to imitate You.  (Ephesians 5:1, NIV).  Let not my heart be discouraged by today’s 15-second rejection.  Maintain my readiness to be utilized as a vehicle of compassion.

In the name of Jesus Christ…AMEN.

Jesus summed it all up when he cried out, "Whoever believes in me, believes not just in me but in the One who sent me. Whoever looks at me is looking, in fact, at the One who sent me. I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won't have to stay any longer in the dark. "If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn't take it seriously, I don't reject him. I didn't come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I'm saying, is willfully choosing rejection. The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, that Word and no other is the last word. I'm not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it. And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life. That's all I have to say. What the Father told me, I tell you." (John 12:46-48, MSG).