“Oh, what a night! Late December back in ‘63!” Well, maybe not that long ago — as Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons sing — since I was yet to be even a mere twinkle in my parents’ eyes. It was more like early September in 2023. The clock said 1:30 a.m., and I couldn’t fall asleep. No matter how many proverbial sheep I counted, I failed to enter into the pastures of slumber.
A few hours ahead was a full and hectic day, and I mulled over how to get through it and keep my sanity. I’m reminded of another who endured a sleepless and stressful night. The stakes were much higher in this case. He dreaded the prospect of a broken bond long held with a loved one.
Sleeping Indeed on a Friend in Need
Three times He pleaded with friends close by for support, but they were exhausted. He warned them to be guard for what was to come for their association with Him saying, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:40-41).”
This well-known phrase can mean a person is highly susceptible to temptation or sheer reluctance. For this post, I’d like to highlight the latter definition.
Dirty Hands with a Pure Motive
Before the aforementioned and pivotal moment in Jesus’s time on earth, He engaged with people His contemporaries shunned. He spoke at a gathering with leaders, “For John (the Baptist) didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” His notoriety among the marginalized earned Him the provocative title of “Friend of sinners” (Matthew 11:18-19).
Although He is God and before His ultimate sacrifice, He chose to be hands-on and get them “dirty” to demonstrate His heart for humanity (Romans 5:6-8). No one was beyond His reach.
Reinvesting in the Undesirable
As His followers, He gave us the charge to invest our time and resources to reach the hearts of those who have lost their way. Yet in many circles, we’ve developed a xenophobic posture. In an attempt to give a spiritual defense for our stance, we gravitate towards verses like 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.”
Although we’re to live distinct lives, which demonstrate our allegiance to our heavenly Father, He beckons us to be down-to-earth and as approachable as He was.
Yet for almost a decade now, we’ve broadened the “filthy things” classification and taken “cancel culture” to a new level. We’re siloing because of race, political affiliation, views on health — exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic — and even language.
Reaching Within to Reach Out
Writing this piece compelled me to take an introspective look, and I still have work to do. While it’s important and healthy to have boundaries, they mustn’t be a blanket response to whatever is uncomfortable.
Jesus was willing to go to and hang around the outcast. He’s the head, and we’re the body. What consumes His mind is reaching the lost, and He relays that message to us. As He thinks, we move (Colossians 1:18-22). The aim isn’t to pressure and “close the deal” but to befriend someone where they are and show that God’s love is real.
The Apostle Paul put this in practice, writing in 1 Corinthians 9:20-22, “When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.”
A Place of Rest for the Restless
My spiritual father always told me, “God has no hands but our hands. He has no feet but our feet.” Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
May restless souls find love, peace, and shelter when they’re in our midst.
Sources:
Song: “December 1963 (Oh What A Night)” by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Scripture: Matthew 26:40-41
Article: “Well-Known Expressions” by Book Browse
Scripture: Matthew 11:18-19
Scripture: Romans 5:6-8
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:17
Scripture: Colossians 1:18-22
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:20-22
Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30
Scripture references are from the New Living Translation. Their links go to bible.com, courtesy of YouVersion, makers of the Bible App available for iOS and Android devices.
