It was a beautiful evening on Nangombe. Well, let's face it; every evening
on Nangombe is beautiful. So I'm a little bias; it's one of my favorite places
on earth. Lush and green and just amazing in every way. I glanced around the
group gathered for Thursday night Bible study. There were benches set up in a
circle. All of the children were standing, giving the seats to the adults. To
one side was the "band" which consisted of 2 drums and a flock of
singers. I was part of the singers, only problem was I didn't know most of the
songs. The Luganda songs that we sang on Nangombe were different than the ones
we sang in Entebbe, because they were mostly local songs. It really didn't
matter. Everyone else knew the songs, and covered up for my lack of knowledge. But
as I looked across the circle, I smiled as I observed one of the kids.
Juka Derrick. His
smile captured me first. It's kind of a shy, sheepish type of smile. Whenever
he would laugh, his head would go down, as though to cover it up but when we
looked up, his eyes had disappeared in the laughter. His smile is huge. Derrick
loves to have fun. I can remember "fights" in the dust fields in the
back field of the farm, balancing competitions on tires, soccer games, making faces
. . . so many good times. To me, Derrick became the face of Jesus. So many
children did, but him in particular. When I left Uganda, I left with memories
and the chilling concern of when I would see Jesus again. I lived in my country
for 23 years and never had I experienced the emotion or conviction of being
face to face with Christ like I had with Derrick. The proposition scared me.
Jesus has another face though. He doesn't disappear
About a week after we got back to the States we went into Kalispell. As I
walked down the side walk, I can remember thinking to myself, Lord, I don't see You. Please, show me Your
face. I know that You are here, just like You were in Nangombe and Entebbe,
just like in the faces of those I grew to love in Africa, but I can't see you
right now. Just then we were passing Target and sitting about 10 feet from
the entrance was a man, probably in his 60's, coloring in a coloring book. He
was obviously homeless. We walked by, and I couldn't help but wonder. It seemed
a strange spot for him. But I kept walking.
Before long, I heard a still small voice. You asked me where I was, to show you My face. You just passed Me by.
I turned and there he was, sitting there, alone, hungry and without
friends. This wasn’t merely a homeless man loafing around outside a store . . .
this was Jesus! And the words rang in my head, In as much as you’ve done it to the least of these My brethren, you’ve
done it unto Me. Jesus always associated Himself with the poor and humble.
Rarely do we see Him in the company of the rich and powerful. I went and sat
with the man for a while. His name is Jose. He barely speaks English, but from
what I could understand, he lost his job, can’t find another one and has no
family. He never asked for a dime; he was only happy to have someone stop and
talk to him, rather than look judgmentally down at him as they hurried about
their way. When we finished praying and I rose to leave, I felt a joy well up
deep inside of me, an inexplicable satisfaction. Not a pat-myself-on-the-back,
look-what-a-good-thing-you-did satisfaction. But the kind of satisfaction that
comes after a cool drink of water on a hot day. I was hungry for Christ and He
found me, and gave me of Himself.
That was 4 months ago. It would be a lie if I told you that I see Christ
everywhere after having that experience. I still struggle to see Jesus in
people and to remember that everybody’s got a story, everybody’s got a need and
as Christ’s follower, I just may be the one to meet that need, if I have the
heart and the eyes to see it. Each day, God is so faithful to give me the opportunity
to see Him, though. Regardless of how He is dressed, where He is walking, how
much money is in His wallet, what kind of car He does or doesn’t drive, He is
out there. Don’t miss the opportunity to minister to the least of these; when
you do, you minister to Christ. And when you minister to Jesus, He fills up
those aching places with Himself. Wherever we go, whatever we do, let us be on
the look-out for Jesus.
This world is much more than the things that surround you.
You must arise, and open your eyes.
Sometimes we're too busy to share, but Jesus wants to care, to care.
Open your arms to the naked and shivering, open your arms, open your arms.
We need a little less taking, a whole lot more giving.
We're so safe and warm, we can open our arms.
And love a little bit stronger, and pray a little bit longer, longer.
Jesus says, when we love someone in His name, we're loving Him.
Jesus says, when we touch someone in His name, we're touching Him.
And we've got to show them the light, we've got to pour out our lives.
Open your hearts to the ones who are desperate, open your hearts, open your hearts.
They may never repay you, but their souls are worth it,
The life you impart when you open your heart.
Jesus loves all men the same,
So we've got to go out in His name.
Jesus says, when we touch someone in His name, we're touching Him.
Jesus says, when we love someone in His name, we're loving Him.
Jesus says, when we feed someone in His name, we're feeding Him.
And Jesus says, when we reach someone in His name,
He feels, He says, it's all for Him.
It's all for Him
.
