Lent Day 30–Looking for Encouragement

I belong to a group called Christian Cancer Survivors.  As individuals who’ve each experienced cancer in our own ways, we gather together to encourage one another and to bring the love of Christ to people—whether patients or caregivers—who could use some strengthening for the journey.

 At our last meeting, one of the people in our group asked, “How do you share Jesus with someone whose spiritual condition you don’t have any way of knowing?” 

The truth is that I will never know anyone’s spiritual condition, so my response was “Love on them.” 

How do you “love on someone?”  Well, you don’t talk about love.  You just do it.  When you don’t know what else to do, love people and listen for them to inch the door open.   Then let words of comfort and peace flow like a gentle breeze into their hearts with a message that refreshes the soul.

Today’s passage, Jude 1:17-25 is that sort of love in action.  In verses 22-23, it says,

Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear– hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” 

A good and loving listener will be able to discern in people’s words whether they are merely doubting and need encouragement; or whether they are rushing headlong into disaster in need of intervention; those who need to have someone grace their troubled lives with a touch of forgiveness; or those who need a word of correction—a tough love that understands that sin can spread like a cancer and Christ is the only cure.

Look for ways today that you can “love on someone” by listening to their hopes, dreams, fears, and worries and letting the encouragement of Christ lift others to walk with you on the Way of Holiness.

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