Take Time to Care
One time I was at the hospital visiting with a friend. When I came out, a mother with her daughter asked if I would go down the hall and pray for her husband. I said, "Sure I will. Let's go down there together."
When we got to the room they said, "Joel, we'll just stay out here and let you go in by yourself."
I thought that was a little strange. I'd never seen the man before. He was about 60 years old. We just acted like we were old friends, and I talked and visited with him for maybe ten or fifteen minutes before I prayed over him. I gave him a big hug and when I walked out, the mother and daughter were grinning from ear to ear.
I said, "What is so funny?"
They said, "Joel, we can't believe he let you pray for him. He doesn't even like you."
I thought, "Oh, thanks a lot. That's why I went in by myself."
They said, "When we watch you on television, he always makes fun of you and tells us to turn you off."
(I thought to myself, "If I had known that I may have prayed a little bit differently.")
This was a couple of years ago, and now that man and his family are at Lakewood every single week. They never miss a Sunday.
Just like in this situation, I believe that when you take time to care, God will give you favor with people. When you go out of your way for others, it softens people's hearts. First Corinthians 13 says that love never fails. When you live life as a healer, reaching out and building people up; it breaks down the walls.
Remember, this week as we approach the Christmas Holiday, what matters the most is how you treat the people around you. As believers, we are the hands and feet of Jesus. As you reach out to others, the Bible says it's like reaching out to God Himself! There's no better way to spend your time than by helping others, and God will reward you for your faithfulness to Him.
When we got to the room they said, "Joel, we'll just stay out here and let you go in by yourself."
I thought that was a little strange. I'd never seen the man before. He was about 60 years old. We just acted like we were old friends, and I talked and visited with him for maybe ten or fifteen minutes before I prayed over him. I gave him a big hug and when I walked out, the mother and daughter were grinning from ear to ear.
I said, "What is so funny?"
They said, "Joel, we can't believe he let you pray for him. He doesn't even like you."
I thought, "Oh, thanks a lot. That's why I went in by myself."
They said, "When we watch you on television, he always makes fun of you and tells us to turn you off."
(I thought to myself, "If I had known that I may have prayed a little bit differently.")
This was a couple of years ago, and now that man and his family are at Lakewood every single week. They never miss a Sunday.
Just like in this situation, I believe that when you take time to care, God will give you favor with people. When you go out of your way for others, it softens people's hearts. First Corinthians 13 says that love never fails. When you live life as a healer, reaching out and building people up; it breaks down the walls.
Remember, this week as we approach the Christmas Holiday, what matters the most is how you treat the people around you. As believers, we are the hands and feet of Jesus. As you reach out to others, the Bible says it's like reaching out to God Himself! There's no better way to spend your time than by helping others, and God will reward you for your faithfulness to Him.