Recently, I finished a Bible reading plan. I read verse after verse about love, and I was challenged. Around the same time, I was introduced to a new movie from the producers of The Chosen, sure-to-be a new family holiday classic, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
In the movie, the stakes are high for the annual Christmas pageant…and one slip of a little boy’s tongue that the church offers snacks during Sunday school brings the town’s arch-nemesis family…to church. These kids are the talk of the town, constantly getting into mischief and causing all sorts of turmoil. We eventually see the why behind the kids’ behavior…they are latch-key kids whose parents are nowhere to be found, and who are misunderstood. As they take the leads in the play, they come to learn about Jesus, Christmas, and community, and the town is never the same.
As I walked away from the movie, it had me asking, “Who are my Herdmans?” Who are the people in my life who are misunderstood and are in need of love and community?
Maybe it’s the client who is always asking for major financial help, but who is also soaking up all things Bible at church. God would have me be gentle, humble, patient, kind and loving (Ephesians 4:2-3, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4:21). Maybe it’s the clients who speak a different language, who need me to go the extra mile to learn their language so they know there’s a safe place to find help as they begin life in a new country; God would have me give help as though I was giving it to him (Matthew 25:35-40). Maybe it’s the child who cannot live at home due to abuse whose behavior is challenging in class due to the trauma of his or her experiences; God would have me defend the cause of the fatherless. (Deuteronomy 1:18)
Who are your Herdmans? Who are those people who don’t currently fit in amongst your world, but desperately need the love of Jesus?
I believe we all have them. Can you think of someone?
How do we reach out to these persons with the love of Jesus?
Make Room…
- Ignore the voices around you that are negative.
- What would Jesus say about the individual?
- What would He have you do? Make space for that individual to be part of your world.
- Make space for conversation. Ask God for divine appointments to talk about how good He is.
- And find opportunities to tangibly show love. In the movie, it was a gifted ham…. How would Jesus have you show love?
In this new year, may we reach out to those around us who may be more like the Herdmans…who stretch us out of our comfort zone, but just may need our love to experience and come to know the love of Jesus. God, may Your love grow in each of us. Show us who you have for us to reach out to in love and care. Amen.
