Once, I was the lead teacher for a 7th grade Sunday school class.
One holiday season, we asked the students what they wanted for Christmas.
As we worked around the room, the usual choices were prominent. TV in my room, a portable phone in my room ( years before cell phones came out), a Sony Walkman tape player (kids ask your parents)or the old standard…cash. “Oh, yeah and me too” echoed in the room as cool gifts were named.
Then, God showed up and humbled us all in the midst of our selfish anticipation.
You know, God speaks through gentle voices and whispers as often as thunder and shouting.
God spoke through a shy, wallflower little boy. We knew this boy rode the bus to church and came from a tough home. We guessed he would ask for something like new shoes, clothes etc.
This little boy stood up, choking on the lump lodged in his throat and in barely audible words simply said, “the one thing that would be my best gift ever is …a friend.”
Stop. Read that line again. Let it cut…sting…convict like we all felt over 30 years go
In our world of instant communication with Facebook, Twitter, texting, cell phone and email…someone in our life wants a friend. Someone who cares. Someone who knows their name and needs. Someone to talk to.
Students, you know who the campus rejects are.
Adults, we all have neighbors we do not know.
Will you be Jesus to them and reach them where they are or be too cool to care?
Everyone on the face of God’s earth is here by His creative, life giving power. They are worth knowing…loving…accepting.
Jesus calls us His body. We are his hands to help the poor...His arms to hug the lonely…His eyes to notice the lonely around us.
Will you bring Jesus to them?
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