I picked up a homeless guy tuesday. I didn’t have time honestly, I was packing my stuff up and cleaning my house to leave town. But I just couldn’t help myself, you see theres has been a shift inside of me lately. Something has changed. My life is no longer my own, and when I see or hear, or feel lead I say yes. From now on my answer will always be yes, I’ve died to myself and I serve the King, and it’s an honor to serve my Lord!
His name is Burt. He’s 49 years old, he was adopted as a kid and never had much in life. He has curly light brown hair and a full ragged beard. He owned nothing but the clothes on his back and whatever he had in his pockets. I pulled up and asked him if he needed a lift, “oh yeah man sure” he said, he was going to Atlanta, I told him I wasn’t going that far but I could take him to the interstate. I asked if he was hungry, “oh yeah man” he said, he had this way about him, quirks I’ll never forget. He said he lost his stuff a little while ago, and wasn’t sure where it went. He’d been homeless for a while, he was originally from Michigan. He’d gone belly up a few years ago and he was headed south for warming temperatures.
“Hey bro, what do you want to eat?” I asked.
“I dunno, whatever works, I’m not from around here” he said.
Wendy’s was about the closest thing, so I pulled into the drive through and told him to order whatever he wanted off the menu. He wanted a number 7, “Number 7chicken sandwhich meal the lady asked? Is that all?”
“Yes ma’am, but supersize it!” I said. I could tell Burt was hungry and I wanted only the best for my new friend.
I realized that he probably needed a pack and some clothes, a jacket at least, even a warm shower would probably make him feel better! I asked him if he’d like to come over to my house and shower, and check out some of my stuff to see if he wanted or needed it.
“Oh yeah man” he said once again, “sure”.
On the way to my house I told him who I was, and that I love Jesus. He smiled with a mouth full of fries “Jesus is amazing isn’t he?!”, “Yeah Burt, He really is!”
Burt had come to know Christ in 1985 at a small church in Kentucky. Although this man had nothing, he wasn’t bitter. He didn’t blame God, in fact he didn’t look at his circumstance, he just knew that Jesus was amazing! Thank you Lord.
We got to my house, I had stuff all over the place because I was packing it all away for my trip and had to be out of the house that night. He sat down at my table and continued mowing down the food, large coke was already gone. I started grabbing stuff and asking him to pick out what he wanted. I asked him if he wanted this alice pack or this other day pack?
“That’ll work” he said as he pointed to the day pack.
I found some of my warm clothes I was taking with me back west, I had some nice jackets that he may want, “which one would you like burt?”.
He tried on the Carhardt, “I’ll take this one man”.
Do you need some pants I asked?
“no man I’ve got 2 pairs on” he responded.
“What about a sleeping bag, need one?”
“No man, I don’t have room for that.”
“How about some food bro, I’ve got some military Meals Ready to Eat(MRE’s)?”.
“Oh yeah man” he said.
Do you have anything sweet man?”
“Yeah bro, these things are loaded with stuff. There has to be M&M’s in here and some cookies!”
“Alright man, yeah, give me some of those” he said with a big grin.
He finished eating, and I showed him the shower, gave him some body wash and a towel. I went back into my kitchen and started loading his pack down. Like a mad man looking for treasure I stripped 2 full boxes of MRE’s down from all the wrappings to just the main meals and candy and edible stuff. Loading the pack down I stuffed it full of food, nearly 30 lbs of food. I also put in the MRE heaters, I knew he’d want those. I wanted him to have more of my stuff, I couldn’t stop giving him things, I wanted to fill that pack up, I wanted him to have brand new clothes. As I packed I prayed for him, God give him everything you’ve got, give him his hearts desires Lord. I wanted him to have the best….
And then it hit me…I am Burt.
Not today, but years ago there I was, dirty and alone. I was walking hopeless down a road without anything but the filth of the world that had clung itself to me with its stench. Clothes of rags I was wrapped in bondage, alcoholism, lust, greed, anger, jealousy, fear, anxiety, depression. And then Jesus Christ showed up and he rescued me!
He brought me out of my circumstance and gave me hope. He came in and gave me a rid. When I was tired of walking my own he came in and picked me up. He took me to get food, he offered me whatever I wanted on the menu, and then He supersized it! He took me to His home, and offered me his best! He gave me a new coat to keep me warm. He gave me a pack and filled it with food, and gave me only His best! He offered me a shower and I was washed white as snow. He opened his arms for me, and I became new. Cleansed, clean, and full! Christ redeemed me!
Burt came out of that shower looking like a brand new man. Man he looked good! New jacket, beanie, he was clean. I asked him if he needed a toothbrush and some toothpaste, “nah man” he responded, “I have some somewhere”. Although that struck me as kind of odd, I realized Burt had more then I realized he did.
I loaded him down with the pack full of food. Took him to the Interstate. Got out of my truck and embraced him. I told him how much he meant to God and how much God loved him. I told him that he’s an heir of the kingdom of God, and no matter what he can’t be homeless because his Daddy is the King! Then I blessed him, and sent him on his way. When I came back 10 minutes later he was gone, but I know I’ll see him again in heaven someday. He knew Jesus I have no doubt about that.
Friends, I don’t share this to tell you about what I did for Burt, but what Christ did for me! And what Jesus Christ will do for you! You see, it’s simple to love when you know the author of love. It’s simple to give when you know the giver of life. It’s easy to share when nothing is yours anyway. You see all that stuff that the bible says about love is true. Love never fails, it never gives up! You don’t “do” love, you become it. God is love and we’ve been made in His image! ha ha ha isn’t that great! That means that not only can you be loved, you can become it!
I’d ask you to do me a favor. Ask Jesus to tell you what He thinks of you! Ha ha ha seriously. Ask Him right now, just say “Jesus, who am I to you? What do you think of me? And then listen”. You are a son of God, you’re royalty. You’re a daughter of the King, you’re royalty! He loves you so much and Jesus wants to come in and completely invade your life. He wants to live in you, he wants you back! He’s ransomed you. His death on the cross was a heavy price, but he says you’re worth it! You’re worth it! Jesus loves you, not for anything you've done, but just because of who you are!
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
“Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:8
