Everyone has a story.
Every story is valuable.
However, it is a rarity to meet those individuals who are willing to share their story with complete strangers. To serve others by sharing the very depths of their heart and soul.
Is this not what Jesus did though?
He shared. He gave without ceasing. He served those who were seen as ‘the least of these.’ He lived. He loved.
“...Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37-38
Tonight, my teammate Aaron and myself were invited to dine with our Coach, Tom, and his two friends. Tom thought it would be an awesome experience for us to partake in prior to heading to India as one of the gentlemen was actually from there!
His name was Sudhakar. He shared his heart and his testimony willingly. Such life radiated from his story of coming to faith in Christ out of Hinduism, All he did was pray and ask God to move … and He did.
After we heard his story, a man by the name of Claude, guided our conversation. His heart was on fire for God unlike any I have witnessed before. I never understood what it was like to literally see Christ in a person. He told his story of salvation. How he spoke to a homeless man, an addict, and saw Christ in another for the first time. In the very second Claude opened his heart up and shared, it felt as if I was dining with Christ himself. He spoke with such intent and stared me straight in the face with his bright blue eyes. In that moment, there was a clear understanding that we, creation, do not just bear God’s image physically but also spiritually – out of our heart.
‘...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.’ -Matthew 12:34
Claude spoke of unimaginable miracles and things he has witnessed as he chose to follow Christ. Hearing him speak made me realize how important it is to see the presence of God in others. That God is with us. In us. How He, the creator God, empowers us to do remarkable things. How vital it is to love. To love everyone right where they are, where they are at, and exactly for who they are.
‘Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
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.’
-Mathew 25:34-40
God’s people carry His presence. Their hearts are alive. Living waters flow from their very being, their stories are full of joy, and their words actively carry the essence of love.
