The HOSPITAL is a most peculiar place.
In one building, some are being born, others in need of a check up, some being vaccinated to prevent harm, others are even dying or almost dead. The most interesting group, however, are those who appear to be healthy. No outwardly signs of damage and illness, yet they could literally be checking into the lab to check for a deadly disease. The HOSPITAL is a most peculiar place. Many say, THE church is a hospital for the sick in the world. We can see this in some churches on a Sunday morning if a person stumbles in or cries out to God the entire service. But what about the ones who aren’t so obvious. What about the ones with trust issues, secrets, suicidal thoughts, and more. Perhaps these among you aren’t as obvious, but the hospital exists for the newly born dead, and dying all the same. Just because we can’t see the pain, doesn’t negate the presence of the pain. I once was a suicidal depressed worship leader, ministry leader and no one had a clue. I look positively healthy on the outside. Inside dying slowly. Internally bleeding out.
Romans 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free
I challenge you to be the Church everywhere you go! Be willing to look beyond the surface to those who are in need of a touch from you. The hurting are all around you. Be the hope. Be the hands and feet of the greatest physician. Be the hospital to those around you. Bring the shots of victory. Tell all of the life-giving blood. Be THE church.
I encourage you to consider these tips in your every day life to help those around you. 1.) Be intentional What if you chose to be intentional with those around you? Intentionality requires you to be creative and inventive on how you can love people well. Ask people how they are? Be the first one who’s willing to lend a hand. If you haven’t seen a person in a while, reach out to them. Send a letter, choose to listen. Intentionality goes a long way. It shows that you care about them beyond the surface. This is a great way to display the love of Christ through your actions! 2.) Be encouraging, speak in love Many times we think don’t have the words to say. However, let your words be like his words. His words speak love and gentleness over those around you. You can literally be the mouthpiece of Jesus to those around you by proclaiming God’s love over people. Furthermore, the Bible says, “A gentle statement is a tree of life, but perverted speech shatters the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4 Be careful to not cause further damage when loving on the hurting. Speak hope and victory over those who entrust you. If you don’t know what to say...listen instead. 3.) Be slow to judge, and quick to love Sometimes we tend to judge people based on our standards. We think, “Well, if they would just stop, then...” We can be quick to condemn others to Hell. What if we let God do the judging? After all, He is the perfect one. Many times unless you have truly spent time with an individual you have no idea why they process and respond like they do. Instead of pointing the finger, point people back to the love of the Lord. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1 4.) Stay in prayer and be willing to pray for others. An awesome thing happens when you truly start to pray for those around you. God will begin opening your eyes to the dying amongst you. You will have a heart for them that others don’t have. The more you seek God, the more you will have His heartbeat and outlook on His children. Slow down and be willing to listen and even pray in the moment and He will give the ability to discern beyond what you can see. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior” 1 Timothy 2:1-3
What if we all decide that from this day forward we will be the church? That we will bring hops everywhere we go? That we would choose love over condemnation and season our words with grace? What if we embraced the rejected and loved on the broken-hearted. The local churches would truly be full every Sunday morning, if only we would dig beyond the surface and love well. Your words and actions today can be the first step towards someone else’s victory in your life!