Anonymous Angel

The other day, I saw something that really bothered me: on a local group page, I noticed that someone was not being compassionate or understanding to the plight of some impoverished people in the area. It was genuinely deeply troubling to me more than other times, wondering just how this woman could be so cruel to people that she had no idea about whatsoever. How in the world could people not see that they are being so very inhumane? Admittedly, I went to her page and saw that she wasn’t a follower of Jesus…okay, well, I can see why she’d act that way. ("The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.” -Proverbs 29:7) But, oh wait! Even those of us that are walking with Him can lack compassion for those that are downtrodden and assume that we are above them because of the grace that God has shown to us.

Trust me, I am not perfect in the area of compassion whatsoever and believe that a prayer for the love of Jesus to be in our hearts is paramount to our Christian walk. There’s a verse that stuck out to me even before walking with the Lord that comes from Hebrews 13:2. It reads: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Not that this should necessarily be a driving force for us to have compassionate hearts, but it sure doesn’t hurt! There are a handful of biblical instances where Hebrews 13:2 is applicable including Abraham in Genesis 18, Lot in Genesis 19, and Gideon in Judges 6 (although I have some questions for Lot concerning his moral standing, but I digress, the Lord is working on me too, y’all!). Imagine the trajectory of these men’s lives if they had treated these men (angels unawares!) with callous behavior? To see the way they treated strangers is a great identifier of their heart posture which was based in the love of God.

How many of us pass judgement on those that we see living in ways that we deem unfit rather than seeing them with the tenderness of God’s heart? I know I have and, if I’m completely frank, am bound to do it again! However, growing in the Lord brings about a certain level of conviction when situations such as these arise. Often times, we forget what the grace of God has kept us from or the tragedy that we were able to walk through because of the Lord fighting for us. 1 Corinthians 15:10 A is a magnificent reminder to all believers: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain;” Any one of us if given the same set of circumstances could not make it out by our own strength (and if so, not without tremendous burden and scathe).

There are a great number of people that are chained to addictions of every kind. Imagine for a moment a fish peacefully swimming in the water and it sees a tasty worm dangling in front of it. Of course, in the fish’s mind, worms are enjoyable and what convenience that it’s coming from a place that it’s so easy to get and it barely has to fight for its meal—what pleasure! But the fish doesn’t see the danger attached to the gratification and before it knows what happened, it’s hooked and fighting a losing battle to free itself from certain death. When we seek pleasure from this dying world, we reap mayhem. Romans 6:23 breaks it down simply saying: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Earthly pleasures that are rooted in satisfaction of the flesh outside of God’s will not only leads to eternal death, but death in this life as well. Sadly, it seems that we have entered into a new phase of a metaphorical zombie apocalypse, walking amongst the living dead.

Needless to say, addiction is not the only way that people can come about hard times. This life is full of unfortunate circumstances that are no respecter of person. As believers, we are meant to shine a light in this dark world (Matthew 5:14-16) and to have a heart of compassion for them that face such troubles (Colossians 3:12). In Luke 6:31, Jesus says, “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” How would you feel if at your lowest moment, feeling as though you’re teetering between life and death, people treated you as if you were a worthless piece of trash not even worthy to breathe the same air as them? If you had the mindset that everyone is bad, life isn’t worth living, and the world is a cruel dark place, wouldn’t that maltreatment just validate that frame of thinking? We are called to be set apart from the world and that means how we view and treat people. Romans 12:2 reminds us of our displacement from “mainstream society” reading: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Could you recognize a tree that was meant to be in bloom without its fruit? Perhaps, but what use would that tree be by producing nothing? “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” -Matthew 5:13. What use are we in this ever perishing world if we act just like it? What great movement has ever been brought about by complacency and lack of heart for others? By showing the love of Jesus to those that are not acquainted with love or goodness, it creates a way for them to view life differently. This can subsequently soften their hearts to the gospel and show them that life can be more beautiful than they had ever imagined in any circumstance. I think of Paul saying in Philippians 4:12-13, “ I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” The joy of the Lord is not circumstantial and is a gift freely given by Him to all those that put their faith in Him.

Today, if you are one that lacks mercy for others, I’d urge you to pray a simple prayer asking that God would give you a heart of compassion. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:9-11 that God is more than happy to give us good things: “Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Remember that the lives that we live (although we all have challenges and are not immune to suffering) are just a product of God’s wonderful grace on us and we are blessed to be able to share that same hope with others. And who knows, in giving a helping hand or showing tenderheartedness to someone, you may be entertaining an angel unaware!