Devotional from Jill Ramirez
Rich and I found ourselves surrounded by widows in a short amount of time. Our neighbor to the right died, then to the left, in front of us and then behind us. All from cancer, and within a couple of years. As each of their husbands passed away, we began helping them with yard work, odds and ends around the house, meals, and anything else they needed. I’ve prayed with them, cried with them and laughed with them. As hard as it was to watch them all go through such a terrible loss, we are thankful God chose to surround us with them. It has been a bigger blessing than we could have expected. One has since passed away and the other moved to a smaller place, but guess who moved in? Two wonderful families, that just so happen to not believe in God. We have had countless opportunities to show them Jesus just by caring for them and they have become good friends.
The purpose of this isn’t to say we are anything special. It’s just simply to say look around you. There are ministry opportunities everywhere. You don’t have to go far, and to be honest, you may not have to leave your own block. Ask God to show you who they are and shower them with God’s love. Who needs to you to show them Jesus at work, in your neighborhood, at school, at the gym, at the store, in your friend group? Take a chance and step out! There’s nothing that our God can’t do!
I love this verse in Matthew:
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”
Matthew 10:8
We may not be raising the dead, cleansing leprosy or driving out demons, but we can pray, make meals, mow the lawn, take the time to listen, love the unlovable, and show them Jesus in how we treat them. Freely you have received; freely give.