Again I will say, God meets you exactly where you are at. Lisa and I have mentioned this many times. We are both so enthusiastic about the statement because it comes from firsthand experience in our walk with the Lord.

While Jesus was here on earth, He chose to hang out with the sinners. That’s where He spent most of His social time — in the trenches with the general public — the good, bad, and ugly. While He didn’t deny the destructive reality of the sin that infects humanity, He saw people as the special creation of God, created in His image. Jesus looked at people who had been defined by their sin and instead saw names and faces and stories of hope. Jesus wasn’t friends of sinners because He ignored sin, or enjoyed light-hearted revelry with those engaged in immorality. He was a friend in that He came to save sinners and was very pleased to welcome sinners who were open to the Gospel and on their way to putting their faith in Him.

All throughout the Bible God used many flawed people to accomplish His purposes. All of them have great stories. But, I’m sure at the time none of them had any idea that their experiences would help teach us for thousands of years to come. And if you notice, their characteristics and circumstances are all very relatable to modern-day people as we know them (and as many of us are).

• Noah was a drunk
• Abraham was too old
• Jacob was liar
• Leah was ugly
• Martha was a worrier
• Joseph was abused
• The Samaritan woman was divorced (multiple times)
• Moses had a speech problem
• Samson was a womanizer
• Rehab was a prostitute
• David was an adulterer and a murderer
• Elijah was suicidal
• Isaiah preached naked
• Jonah ran from God
• Jacob was a cheater
• Job went bankrupt
• John the Baptist ate bugs
• The disciples fell asleep while praying
• Zacchaeus was money hungry
• Paul persecuted Christians before becoming one
• Peter denied Christ (3 times!)

And Jesus loves them all. Jesus loves every single person to ever exist on this planet — past, present and future. There are no favorites — He loves us all the same. And there is no situation that He can’t handle. As He was brutally beaten and hung on the cross by the ones carrying out the act, He loved even them. That’s exactly who He was dying for. And this includes you and me.

What got me on this topic in the first place was the avoidance factor of my own flawed human nature when I was approaching someone I didn’t want to bump into the other day. I will call him Joe. Joe just bugs me. He gets on my nerves. He says stupid things. He is negative and complains a lot. But he also tries to be funny — and he is not. And most of all, he likes to chit-chat with me — a lot! … ugh!

After spotting Joe at the grocery store that day and then turning a fast corner (with excellent skill) in order not to have to strike up a conversation, I heard His voice instead. Yep! The Holy Spirit gently tugged at me and reminded me that I had asked God to help me examine my heart (thank you, Lisa, for the last post!!). So I started thinking about this man, Joe, and wondered if he had ever heard God’s voice or had a tug by the Holy Spirit. Maybe wrong, but I thought probably not — he was too busy complaining and being a downer, or trying to impress people with his bad jokes. Then, another tap-tap on the shoulder, another tug reminding me, “He meets you where you’re at, Lori.”  Well, okay… yes! Jesus, you are the master one for doing that.  Thank you God, thank you Jesus.

Then it dawned on me.

I know we are to love others, but I had never really dug down and positioned my thoughts on how to do this — by loving others the way Jesus loves us — but more importantly, how He goes about it. And He goes about it by meeting people exactly where they are — no matter what the circumstances are. Facing those people, head on, whose situations might offend, irritate or even anger me, is what I need to be doing. Laying all the “stuff” down, meeting people where they are at, and moving past those things that would normally stop me in my tracks. What would happen if I took the time to find the good in someone instead of avoiding them altogether? What would happen if I looked for ways to serve someone (perhaps in need) instead of dismissing them in my world because they simply got on my nerves? What would happen if I actually put a smile on someone’s face by providing some sort of comfort simply by engaging with them? What if a little bit of genuine kindness ended up making someone’s day brighter?

We have already got a lot of intensifying division taking place in our world these days. And, it’s never been as important as it is now to share God’s light — to ALL people — all walks of life — to those who have no faith as well as those who do. So, this was a big reminder to me — again, that I need to reel it back to the Cross. Because it’s all about Jesus and His love for us. I guarantee you, Jesus wouldn’t be running around a grocery store ducking in aisles to avoid anyone. No, He would be welcoming the opportunity to gladly say hello so He could shine some light and hopefully make a difference in someone’s day — no matter who they were.

Unbeknownst to him, I’m thankful for Joe and his help in teaching me this lesson — and I look forward to bumping into him again soon. Who knows… God might take him one day and use him for wonderful, wonderful things.

Thanks for reading my testimony.

Holding fast,

Lori

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:6)

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy. (Ephesians 4:23-24)

^{Photography by Morgan Sessions}