Love... Is Attentive
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36 (NIV)
As He [Jesus] was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; He is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed Him on the way.
Mark 10: 45-52 (ESV)
The opposite of selfish is selfless. Among followers of Christ, selflessness is an invitation God won’t refuse! His Holy Spirit comes to live in them!
Since selfless people aren’t full of themselves, what’s their life like? How do they spend their time?
Like Jesus did, they focus on others! They’re situationally attentive, notably of those God puts in their paths– those who are lonely, hurting, or in need!
Like the Good Samaritan did, they help!* Surely, this kind man had somewhere to be, something to do, a reason for his trip. But he laid aside his own to-do list for the more urgent needs of a stranger: a bloody, unconscious, undressed stranger!
He didn't make judgmental assumptions: “Why is he naked? Maybe he’s evil and brought this awful fate upon himself. What if it's a ruse and he attacks me?”
He didn't prefer his own agenda: As in, “I’ve got a major appointment. It could change lots of lives (including mine). Looks like this guy’s a goner… anyway!”
A PERSONAL NOTE: I’ve NOT mastered selfless attentiveness. I’m easily “caught” in my To-Do list:( That being said, it’s my goal and DUTY… to tend to those God places before me.
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
How can you attend to your followers? As your talent draws people toward you, example God’s love in your off-stage life. Stop and chat with fans whenever you can. Build interaction time in your schedule.
Do consider your social media as one way to “attend” your followers. Most of them simply want to be NOTICED– as people worthy of your attention (which can be a great segue to Jesus!)
Love… Is Attentive (Part 29)
* The Parable of the Good Samaritan: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A25-37&version=NASB
* The Rich Man and Lazarus:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A19-31&version=NKJV
* The entirety of the Gospels illustrates Christ's attentiveness to the people in need around Him.
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re all called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re all called to models of Jesus, and we all have gifts, talents, and a commission to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend DAILY BIBLE READING.
WARNING: Don’t focus on your favorite verses, because taken out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!