May 19: A REMINDER

I saw a homeless man carrying his possessions on his back in town today. It’s easy to forget the homeless this time of year, they are less visible. We need reminders for some facts. If your skin is white you don’t have to think about what it means to be white, you just accept the advantage. If you are economically secure, you don’t have to think about what it means to be poor, you just accept the advantage. If you have a roof over your head, you don’t have to think about what it means to be homeless, you just accept the advantage. We have to remind ourselves to force ourselves to think about the plight of the homeless.
James 2:15-17 (NIV) is a direct jab to the forgetful: “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes or daily food.If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and be well fed; but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?’ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead.”
None of us likes to dwell on the unpleasant but how else will we be activated to do something positive? There are many governmental agencies trying to prevent homelessness but many people slip through the cracks. Some are sensitive enough to say “there, but for the grace of God, go I”, but most of us focus our energy on seeing that our shelter remains in best repair.
Consider the fact that Jesus was a homeless person. He was literally homeless. People didn’t look down on Him or question his work ethic because He was homeless; their anger toward Jesus was directed at His spirituality.
Would you have invited Jesus to your house for a meal? Would you have given the homeless Jesus your spare room to call “home”? Or would you have been threatened by his gang (the disciples)? There is still work for you. And for your church.

“Father, is there such a thing as a ‘holy reminder’ about the things we need to
do if we are going to honor You with our unselfishness? If so, I need one. Amen”