by Anabelle Skudneski on June 11, 2024
I was recently at King Soopers getting groceries and there was a woman in the line next to me standing quietly as the cashier rang up her groceries. As the cashier scanned the last few items, another woman came up to the register and said, “I would love to purchase your groceries for you.” After trying to deny the offer several times, the woman finally accepted this generous act of kindness. Her eyes filled with tears as she loaded the groceries into her cart. She turned to the woman who had just bought her groceries and said, “I just lost my husband and I have 5 kids. I really needed this… thank you so much.”
As I observed this interaction, I thought about how many people in our own community are carrying heavy, heavy burdens.
- There are neighbors of ours who don’t know where their next meal will come from.
- There are friends of ours raising children and supporting their family all on their own.
- There are people who walk by us at church that are lonely and struggling to find community.
- There are families grieving, children without a bed to sleep in, men and women fighting addiction.
Many of us face seasons where we need to be carried by those around us.
In the book of Matthew, Jesus says:
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ - Matthew 25:34-40
He calls us to serve our brothers and sisters and by doing that, we are serving Him. So, my challenge to you is to reflect on these two questions:
- How can you be the hands and feet of Jesus in your own local community?
- If you were to see each person you encounter as a Child of God, created in His image, how would that change the way you love them?
P.S. We have so many wonderful local serving opportunities this summer, including Serve Day and Serve Saturday! We would love to have you join us so we can serve together as a church community. Check out our website for more details.
