Would We Really?

Had a challenge issued last night at church, when taken at face value I did not think that we would have a problem with. Upon deeper thought,

Would we really......

Would we really welcome those that are considered less desirable by society? You know the type, tatoo's all over their bodies. Long hair, unkept beards. Dirty or worn out clothes. Smells of b/o or worse. Would we really wrap our arms around them, embrace them and welcome them in. Would we put our best foot forward and go  up to them and introduce ourselves. Or, would we turn and go a different direction? Avoid them all together? Hmmmmm, interesting, to say the least. I would love to think that our church would welcome them with open arms. Come on in and have a seat. Great the congregation, be friendly with each other. Great to see you, glad that you are here. You are welcome anytime, this is a safe place.

I believe that GOD is working on this very thing with me right now. I never thought that I was that way, until last night. I felt very convicted of what I was like in my past. Even up to the past year or so. I believe that GOD has placed me at the hospital and at the front desk for this very reason. My job at the front desk is to great every single person that comes through that door, no matter what race, size, shape, male, female, three piece suit or holes in their clothes.All are to be greeted the same. I'll have to be honest. This really humbled me. There are people that I greet, that a year ago I would not have given the time of day to. I would have avoided them at all cost. Cross to the other side of the street. Turn around and go a different direction. GOD is teaching me by saying "How is that showing the love of Jesus?" You are supposed to be a Christian, a GODLY man. He showed me that I was being a hypocrite. OUCH!! His work is not completed in me yet, but I am much better off now than a year ago. Praise GOD!

1 John 3:¹⁸ Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. ¹⁹ Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. ²⁰ Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.
 ²¹ Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. ²² And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.
 ²³ And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. ²⁴ Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. (NLT)