Grace in the Mess

"I'm not helping good people or bad people. I'm just helping human beings."  anonoymous

 

A group of ladies wanted to help by giving men under the bridge winter clothes and other such stuff.  But when they heard some were drinking and the older one chose to stay there, they pulled their things back and didn't want to help. . .and they didn't.

 

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mother Teresa

 

My insides cringed at this.  Do we only help and share the love of Christ with only those who have their "act together".  How many of those are out there even in the church?  Do we only help and love those who have all their issues fixed and addictions cured and sins forgiven.  Are not these the ones who need it most?

 

"By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just entitiled to as we are."  Bonhoeffer

 

I am friends with a registered sex offender. . .a one time felony long ago that he paid for and repented of.  When I met him he was newly homeless and scared and didn't want to tell me for awhile.  We talked for about an hour and then he shared his past.  I didn't react with horror.  I just asked questions and I listened.  I shared about the love of God and forgiveness.  He wasn't sure.  Over the next several months, God began dealing with him and brought a few others to him that began a bible study and then began taking him to church.  I continued to be his friend along with my husband.

 

Love me most when I deserve it least~Swedish proverb

 

Last March my friend rededicated his life to the Lord and has been very faithful ever since.  My husband and I can even see a change in his body language, his demeanor, his face. 

 

What if people had left the minute they knew about him.  Most of them do.  But the few who stayed, God worked through to reach our friend and now he and we know for sure the address of his permanent home. And he is now sharing the good news and love of Christ with others.

 

Grace was shown on a cross on a hill.  Don't you know it was messy? Messy with blood and thorns and the ugliness and mess of sins of the whole world. But our Savior, our Jesus, our Christ, our Lord, stepped into the mess and poured out grace and love.  He didn't turn his back on me and I for one, have been changed. Have you? Are you grateful?  Enough to step into the mess? 

"Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work."

Mother Teresa

Dear Lord,
I pray for all who step into the messes whether that be in Africa, under the bridge, or in our own homes. All places are filled with people who need your love and encouragement.  Fill the steppers with strength and courage and love that looks past the mess and sees the beauty of your creation. May you give all these precious ones the discernment and wisdom to know the what, the where and the how and that we may not always know the why but we know the One who does. . . You, and that is enough. May we all just trust and obey and love and leave the rest up to you.
Thank you Father for stepping into the messes.
Thank you for bringing beauty out of the messes.
Thank you for not leaving me in the mess.
In Jesus Name,
Amen 

This was a repost. . .
The man who chose to stay under the bridge. . .moved into his own place a year ago and is still there doing well.

The other one from the beginning of this post went into a rehab in another town over 3 months ago and is still there working it out. I am proud of him.