Showing Love
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:20, ESV
The passage above is a parable about a father’s lost son. The son asked his father for his inheritance and when the father gave it to him the son left and wasted all the money. When the son realized what he had done, he came home to apologize to his father. The passage above said that while the son was a long way off his father saw him. He ran to him and embraced him. He kissed him and had compassion on him!
The Holy Spirit directed me to read the story above in the Bible and when I got to this passage, he asked me, “Are you looking for the lost with compassion? Can anyone “feel” the embrace of God from you from afar?” As I pondered those questions my mind went back to my behavior at a concert that my hubby had taken me to for my birthday a few days earlier. We went with all my siblings and their spouses. It was the first time we had done this together in a long time. I was so excited!
We all sat in this long row together, my husband was on the end of our row with one seat left open. This lady sat down beside him and she started talking with him. My husband is a very friendly person and loves talking to people. He is an extrovert, so when there is someone new to meet he is excited. He turned around and introduced me to the lady and we spoke. But afterwards, she continued her conversation with my husband. Now, we have been married for over forty years so I wasn’t too concerned about this woman chatting to my husband, but I was getting upset because she wouldn’t stop talking! I nudged my husband and I said, “Can we have a conversation?” He looked at me and said, “Sure!” He explained that she came alone and that he was just trying to be nice. I think I said, “Okay, but I don’t care. That’s not my problem.” I had this attitude that I was trying to deal with and then the lady leaned over into our conversation and said, “Oh I hear that it is your birthday! Happy birthday!” There was not an ounce of kindness, or compassion in my soul. I could barely respond to her.
I was irritated with my husband because it was none of her business that we were at this concert for my birthday. I had the idea that my hubby and I were going to enjoy this concert together and chat about the music and how we liked it. But he was spending more time answering her questions than he was talking to me! As a result, I had an attitude and therefore it was no fun for him to chat with me. My sister decided that she wanted to go to the bar to grab a drink so my hubby joined her. When he came back, he has three drinks, one for him, one for me and one for the woman. I did not say a word because I realized that God was working on something inside of me.
As the scene replayed in my mind and the question God had prompted in my spirit, I wondered if I had missed the opportunity to show Christ’s love. My situation was not exactly like the passage above about the father and his son, but his son had done him wrong and yet he was looking to show his son “love.” I did not give that woman a chance to feel Christ’s love. I am a firm believer that God allows things to happen for our growth. There was absolutely no coincidence that I would read the story of the lost son after my incident! God was reminding me that I am here as his instrument to serve him and not myself. When the focus is on ourself and what we want, we can lose a soul that needs love. The son was willing to be the father’s servant; he just wanted to be back home. But his father gave him more than he could have ever imagined. That is exactly what Jesus has done for us and what he wants us to share that with the world!
Key points:
Showing love can cost you your feelings.
Don’t let your feelings hinder your outcome.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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