PSALM 142:1-4 – “With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.  I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.”

THEME OF THE DAY: ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE.  Do we see them?  We don’t have to look hard but we do need the proper eyesight that comes from the proper heart.  They are everywhere, in our neighborhoods, communities, and workplaces.  Again, do we see them?  They attend the same Little League baseball games we do, shop in the same stores we do, and maybe even go to our churches. They are even in our families.

Now, what is the proper eyesight to see them? It is having the eyes of Jesus that comes from the heart of Jesus.  And who are we looking to see?  The people described by David’s own experience in today’s scripture – all the lonely people.  These are David’s laments as a lonely person – “Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.”

Christian, the worst indictment we would ever receive from a lonely and hurting world is “You Christians talk about love but I don’t see it.  I don’t see the care for people your God and Bible say you are to practice.”  That may sound harsh but just take a quick inventory of our lives.  Are we seeing AND loving the lonely people in our world?  World would be defined as our neighbors, co-workers, fellow church members and those in our physical family.

When was the last time we engaged a neighbor or member of our church with a word of encouragement, offer of prayer during a difficult time, or offering ourselves to help them with whatever need they might have?  To support and connect with the lonely, we must first know, engage, and involve ourselves with them.  And that takes intentionality on our part.

The Apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthians would identity the triad of Christian virtues – “So now faith, hope, and love abide these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). But love is only genuine when it is active. Paul would also mention these three virtues in the opening chapter of his letter to the Thessalonians.  The difference there is the activity of these virtues.  They are only true in the Christian when they flow from the Christian – “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4).

So, do we see them? Lonely people. They are indeed all around us.  May God give us the heart of His Son so we may have His eyesight to see them and then take His love to them.

PRAYER: Lord, let me see people with Your heart, then move my feet to bring You to these people.

QUOTE: Seek to have the heart of Jesus for people that moves us to people with His grace and love.