CHRISTIAN SUPPORT –

In her book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Joanna Weaver relates Robert Boyd Munger’s story about how he showed Christ around his house room by room.

When they got to the drawing room they both liked it best and decided to meet and start every day together in this room. They spent wonderful hours there.

But he got busy, often forgetting to meet with Jesus. One day, as he was passing the drawing room he noticed the door ajar with the Lord sitting by the fireplace. He apologized, saying “Blessed Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?”

“Yes,” he said, “I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you.” Christ said, “The trouble with you is this: You have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means something to me also.”

What an amazing thought! Jesus misses us when we don’t spend time with him. We mean that much to him.

As a believer, you may yourself have had moments when you felt that Jesus had left you. Maybe, like the person in the story above, you forgot to spend time with him. And one day you realized he’s no longer in your life. You will be able to feel compassion for others who feel this way.

You may have a friend come to you seeking help with the loss of Jesus in their life, hoping a fellow believer like you could help them find closeness with him again. How would you go about doing so?

How can we find something as intangible as God? As the scripture says,

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:12

We can’t see him, hear him, or feel him. I believe that for most, it’s the feeling of his love we long for—the warmth of his closeness.

But how can one individual help another find such love?

I’ve concluded that they must share with the hungry person the love of God as they find it in themselves. Listening as God would listen. It’s not about telling a person about God’s love, it’s by showing it—being like the Jesus they themselves have learned to know.

By listening, caring, and having compassion.

In my own experience, I’ve found that having someone truly listen to me and hearing me is one of the most important parts of receiving support.

When caregivers show God’s love in this way, they themselves will find God coming closer. They end up with more to give.

Those who hunger for God will find their own hunger filled as they fill others’ hunger. It’s all about love. Love going in two directions. Sharing God with one another.

Pray for more of God’s love to share with others so you can help those who are hungry for him.  When you do, you yourself will come closer to God as well. Everyone benefits.

marja