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He had not always been like this. He once had a good job, a wife and two kids, but that was all taken away one night by a drunk driver. It was like he died that night, too, because he had lost his will to live. He quit his job and lost his home, and now he just wanders from place to place eating where he can find food, and sleeping wherever he ends up.
He saw a notice on a storefront - WORSHIP SERVICE EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK - DINNER SERVED VISITORS WELCOME.
The church was nearby, this was the first night, and he was hungry. He walked into the brisk wind as he headed for the church. He went inside and waited until all the others had gone through the food line. When he got to the serving table a tear fell from his eye, because it had been some time since he had seen so much food. He hurriedly filled his plate and went to a corner to eat.
Afterwards he followed the others to the worship service where he found a seat on the back pew. Some people turned around, probably wondering who was this person in the ragged coat with holes in his shoes and stubble on his face.
The first nights sermon was about love and he felt all warm inside when he heard the congregation sing Oh, How I Love Jesus. When the service ended he bowed his head for a minute and then got up to go back out into the cold.
The next night he came back, only this time he brought a friend much like himself, and he took more joy in seeing his friend eat than he did himself, because he knew that his friend had had nothing to eat for two days.
As the two of them seated themselves for the service, many of the congregation turned and looked at them and then turned and whispered something to their neighbor. This time the pastor preached about The Good Samaritan. The service closed with the singing of Just As I Am and as he started singing he noticed a lump in his throat and tears streaming down his cheeks. His friend noticed too and reached over and clasped his hand. When the service ended, he again bowed his head, only longer this time, and his friend did as well.
When he arrived at the church the following night someone met him at the door.
I am sorry, my friend, but you cannot come in tonight. Some of the people of the church have complained.
I dont understand. What did I do?
Some people look at you as a freeloader. Im really sorry. If you promise not to come back again I will fix you a sandwich to take with you.
The homeless man felt like leaving, but he was hungry so he waited, and shortly the man came back with a sandwich.
The man turned to leave and looked up he saw his friend starting to climb the church steps.
We arent allowed the church anymore. Here. Take part of my sandwich.
His friend thanked him and turned to leave.
He stood reflecting as he watched his friend leave, and then headed off in the other direction.
He had gone only a few steps when he almost stumbled over something. It was an old man with no legs huddled against the church to keep out of the wind.
Hey, mister. Could I have a bite of your sandwich? I havent had anything to eat in a while.
He bent over and gave him all of it and turned and walked away, and as he did the old man broke into a wide grin and hollered out to him, Thank you, Jesus.
The next night he found himself walking by another church with a sign that read - SERVICE TONIGHT - DINNER PROVIDED - VISITORS WELCOME, but he just walked on by into the night even though he was once again cold and hungry. ++++
The man in this story has no name for a couple of reasons. First, it is to illustrate that most people think of a homeless person as a nobody. Second, it is to let us know that any of us could become a homeless person if we cannot overcome our circumstances. It is only by the grace of God that we are not homeless.
Something that happened in my own hometown gave me the inspiration to write this story. A local church found prostitutes coming to its Wednesday evening meal. I am not sure if they discontinued their Wednesday evening service or not, but they did stop serving supper so the prostitutes would not come.
When I think that these are the people we should be trying to reach I also think of the words Jesus wept. We should keep our stones to ourselves and offer those who have not yet found Jesus Christ a relationship with him.
This story tells us that we should welcome all those who come to our church. Those whose hair is long and dirty. Those whose clothes cost less than ours. Those whose job might be different from ours. Those whose skin is a different color from ours. Remember, the man in this story walked by the second church. Someone might judge all Christians by you, or all churches by your church. If Jesus showed up at our church today and we did not recognize Him, would we introduce ourselves and introduce Him to others? Would we ask Him to sit next to us? Or would we wonder who was this man so different from ourselves?
Jesus asks us to judge others by the shadow they cast. All of us cast the same shadow. A shadow does not show skin color, beauty, wealth, or occupation. Jesus only asks us to love the ones He loves.
Copyright 2001 Steve Demaree
To God Be The Glory!
=====
Steve Demaree
1608 Summerhill Drive
Lexington, KY 40515
(606) 271-2416
moviesteve@rocketmail.com
Submitted by Richard
He had not always been like this. He once had a good job, a wife and two kids, but that was all taken away one night by a drunk driver. It was like he died that night, too, because he had lost his will to live. He quit his job and lost his home, and now he just wanders from place to place eating where he can find food, and sleeping wherever he ends up.
He saw a notice on a storefront - WORSHIP SERVICE EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK - DINNER SERVED VISITORS WELCOME.
The church was nearby, this was the first night, and he was hungry. He walked into the brisk wind as he headed for the church. He went inside and waited until all the others had gone through the food line. When he got to the serving table a tear fell from his eye, because it had been some time since he had seen so much food. He hurriedly filled his plate and went to a corner to eat.
Afterwards he followed the others to the worship service where he found a seat on the back pew. Some people turned around, probably wondering who was this person in the ragged coat with holes in his shoes and stubble on his face.
The first nights sermon was about love and he felt all warm inside when he heard the congregation sing Oh, How I Love Jesus. When the service ended he bowed his head for a minute and then got up to go back out into the cold.
The next night he came back, only this time he brought a friend much like himself, and he took more joy in seeing his friend eat than he did himself, because he knew that his friend had had nothing to eat for two days.
As the two of them seated themselves for the service, many of the congregation turned and looked at them and then turned and whispered something to their neighbor. This time the pastor preached about The Good Samaritan. The service closed with the singing of Just As I Am and as he started singing he noticed a lump in his throat and tears streaming down his cheeks. His friend noticed too and reached over and clasped his hand. When the service ended, he again bowed his head, only longer this time, and his friend did as well.
When he arrived at the church the following night someone met him at the door.
I am sorry, my friend, but you cannot come in tonight. Some of the people of the church have complained.
I dont understand. What did I do?
Some people look at you as a freeloader. Im really sorry. If you promise not to come back again I will fix you a sandwich to take with you.
The homeless man felt like leaving, but he was hungry so he waited, and shortly the man came back with a sandwich.
The man turned to leave and looked up he saw his friend starting to climb the church steps.
We arent allowed the church anymore. Here. Take part of my sandwich.
His friend thanked him and turned to leave.
He stood reflecting as he watched his friend leave, and then headed off in the other direction.
He had gone only a few steps when he almost stumbled over something. It was an old man with no legs huddled against the church to keep out of the wind.
Hey, mister. Could I have a bite of your sandwich? I havent had anything to eat in a while.
He bent over and gave him all of it and turned and walked away, and as he did the old man broke into a wide grin and hollered out to him, Thank you, Jesus.
The next night he found himself walking by another church with a sign that read - SERVICE TONIGHT - DINNER PROVIDED - VISITORS WELCOME, but he just walked on by into the night even though he was once again cold and hungry. ++++
The man in this story has no name for a couple of reasons. First, it is to illustrate that most people think of a homeless person as a nobody. Second, it is to let us know that any of us could become a homeless person if we cannot overcome our circumstances. It is only by the grace of God that we are not homeless.
Something that happened in my own hometown gave me the inspiration to write this story. A local church found prostitutes coming to its Wednesday evening meal. I am not sure if they discontinued their Wednesday evening service or not, but they did stop serving supper so the prostitutes would not come.
When I think that these are the people we should be trying to reach I also think of the words Jesus wept. We should keep our stones to ourselves and offer those who have not yet found Jesus Christ a relationship with him.
This story tells us that we should welcome all those who come to our church. Those whose hair is long and dirty. Those whose clothes cost less than ours. Those whose job might be different from ours. Those whose skin is a different color from ours. Remember, the man in this story walked by the second church. Someone might judge all Christians by you, or all churches by your church. If Jesus showed up at our church today and we did not recognize Him, would we introduce ourselves and introduce Him to others? Would we ask Him to sit next to us? Or would we wonder who was this man so different from ourselves?
Jesus asks us to judge others by the shadow they cast. All of us cast the same shadow. A shadow does not show skin color, beauty, wealth, or occupation. Jesus only asks us to love the ones He loves.
Copyright 2001 Steve Demaree
To God Be The Glory!
=====
Steve Demaree
1608 Summerhill Drive
Lexington, KY 40515
(606) 271-2416
moviesteve@rocketmail.com
Submitted by Richard
