Saturday night a friend & I went to the movies...as we were driving through downtown we began to talk about homelessness (so blatantly present, especially in downtown Atlanta) and I shared with him a sad story I had heard earlier in the week...
A prominent member of the community (alias Peter) who attends a large church in the area (which will remain unnamed) told of an event that took place recently after worship one Sunday. As he and his wife were leaving the church, they were approached by a gentleman who was looking for food. Peter told the hungry man that the church was serving a meal to college students and that he was welcome to join the meal. The gentleman thanked them and approached the church. Peter and his wife watched as the man attempted to enter and was turned away, not once, but three times. THREE times this hungry man was turned away. Peter and his wife came to the man and Peter saw the disappointment in his eyes...church folk had turned him away, not once, but three times. The man seemed to sense Peter's disappointment, also. Peter and his wife would not allow this man to leave hungry, so his wife went in and got him a plate of food and the man went on his way.
Hearing this story pained me & brought tears to my eyes. A man, a child of God, was hungry. All he wanted was some food. He stooped himself to the begging level and asked a church-going couple for help. He asked the church for help...and he was turned away...not once, but three times. The church had food! It wasn't like they hadn't been shopping that week and had nothing to share. They had food and were actually serving a meal and still denied this hungry child of God a meal to sustain him. In essence, they denied him not only a meal, but the love of God. They lost an opportunity to be Christ's hands a feet.
"'Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'" Matthew 25: 41-43
Hearing this story challenged my actions...How many times have I passed by someone in need? How many times have I refused to give money to a begging child of God? How many times have I denied someone food or clothes that was in desperate need?
As my friend & I parted & I began the drive home, an opportunity arose. I came to a stop at an intersection and saw a child of God searching through the trash can, opening take out boxes & inspecting bottles, search for something to eat or drink. Seeing this man rummage through the garbage for food hit me in the pit of my stomach, and in the depths of my heart. Sometimes I squirm about eating after other people, and that's only when I want to try something, not when I'm in grave hunger. I could not fathom eating out of the garbage can. Period. I remembered I still had my take out box from dinner that night in my car. So I reached over, grabbed the box, & rolled down my window. "Sir," I called out, "I have some left over sausage and pancakes...would you like them?" He approached my car and took the box. As he did, we locked eyes, and in his eyes, I saw a child of God, a brother in Christ.
I could have made the excuse that it was late & that I didn't have time to stop. I could have said it's late...after midnight...it's not safe for me to open my car window to this stranger. But I didn't...I stepped out in faith to share my food with a hungry brother. And I have prayed for him every day since. I don't write this story to boast, but to share my experience of how I received a nudge from God. After having just telling the story of the church who did not share their food with a hungry brother, God gave me an opportunity to live out Matthew 25: 41-43. What a holy nudge!
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