Angels In Disguise, Part 2
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“Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 6:2b (NLT)
If we want to be mistaken for an angel in disguise, we must first remember that everyone has a hidden hurt around us. We become more aware of that when we ask God to open our eyes that we may see others as God sees them. What do you see when you’re in a crowd? Matthew tells us that when Jesus “saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 13:2-3 (TLB) Too often, I just see a crowd in my way. To open the gift of this day, I need to pray that God would open my eyes to really see what He sees.
When God opens our eyes to see others as He sees them it will break our hearts for what breaks His heart. In Hebrews, the Bible tells us to “Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, for you know what they are going through.” Hebrews 13:3 (TLB) The first part of that verse says, “Suffer with them as though you were there yourself.” That is compassion. When we show that kind of compassion it will cause people to wonder where a love like that comes from? Who does that? Some may even wonder if you are an angel.
To be mistaken for an angel, though, we must also risk loving today. Don’t miss the opportunity God has given you today. Begin to develop a “one-day mindset.” Most of us have settled for a “some-day mindset” and we wonder why we miss the gift of one day. The only time you can be mistaken as an angel in a stranger’s life is today! How do we do that? Let’s begin by practicing these four steps that will transform our good intentions into practical actions. Here are the first two:
· Don’t wait for the big opportunities. It’s usually not the big grandiose acts of kindness that make the most difference. More often it is the unexpected little acts of thoughtfulness that come from a heart of compassion. In Proverbs 3:27 (MSG), the Bible tells us, “Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person ….” Wow! Consider that verse one more time. It says that your hand could be the “hand of God” touching that person’s heart with a simple act of kindness. Those simple acts of kindness can make a world of difference in the life of someone who is hurting. It could be God’s way of healing a broken heart.
· Don’t overlook the one in front of you. You can’t be angel to a stranger and be the devil to your family. In Galatians 6:10 (NLT), the Bible says, “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” The best place to begin seeing others as God sees them is by focusing on the one in front of you. Start there and you’ll find you will be more sensitive to the hurts of strangers around you.
The challenge in our gift of one day adventure is to risk loving today. We’ll look at two more practical tips for doing that tomorrow. Until then, we have enough to get started for this day. Open the gift of today with the intent to let God use you in the lives of those around you. Be His hands to show compassion.