Scripture
Our verse for today is from Colossians 4:8, ” I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts. “
Background
Many of you are familiar with Hospice, the organization that offers care to those going through the last days of their life. I have seen them at work firsthand and had nothing but good things to say about them. In fact, I have never heard anything but rave reviews from anyone who has been served by them. Allow me then, please, to include here a few lines from their website about the type of care they offer. ” Hospice is a special concept of care designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families. Hospice staff and volunteers offer a specialized knowledge of medical care, including pain management. The goal of hospice care is to improve the quality of a patient’s last days by offering comfort and dignity. Hospice deals with the emotional, social and spiritual impact of the disease on the patient and the patient’s family and friends. ” Hospice comes into your home, into your situation for this very purpose, to be a blessing during a horribly difficult time. They do it by being who they are and offering what they have to ones who are hurting. They learn your circumstances and bring comfort to your heart. If I didn’t know better, I’d think we were talking about Christians. Comfort, blessings, care, giving. It’s all there.
Application
But in our world, we struggle a bit with learning someone’s circumstances, don’t we? We don’t open up like we could, or we don’t sincerely seek out like we should. It’s a time issue, or a personality hang-up, or a priority problem. Whatever it is, it ultimately becomes an issue of the heart, the one that is hurting and the one not bringing the comfort. We need to open up, and we need to listen up. And if we’ll bring the comfort, then we, like hospice, can bring comfort to the last days. Not the last days of someone’s life, per se, but the last days of their sorrow. Our care may lead them to respond in a way that leads to victory, to joy, to peace. That’s a mighty purpose. That’s Christ’s special concept of care.
Charge
As we seek Him today, thank God for the comfort you have received along the way, and open yourself to giving and receiving more where that came from.
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Author – Rich Holt | BCWorldview.org
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