J.P.

My boss was a youth minister before he became the director of the ministry where I work.  There is this man that is about 40-years-old who comes around all the time.  

He is doesn't have a house, and his home is where ever he finds a place to lay his head at night.  /  He is addicted to several medications and literally has to be picked up off of the floor when he is high.  /  He has a good heart underneath it all, and goes to visit his mother in the nursing home everyday.  /  Sometimes, he just ticks me off because I am trying to work and do my job and he always comes in and needs something.  /  "What now, J.P.?"  /  He is dirty and smells.  /  His brain is so fried that when we do actually have a job he can do, he can't comprehend how to do it and needs to be walked through every step over and over again.  /  The only thing he has to offer me is an open hand to receive.  /  He is always so needy.  /  There are things I want to do, but I have to take care of him first.

The other day, he comes and sits at one of the chairs in front of my desk.  I wasn't doing much, so I took the chance to get to know him a little.  As he told me about his life, the Lord just smacked me in the head.  The Lord desires J.P. to know Him.  He craves to be J.P.'s savior.  He loves J.P.

Wait.  I am suppose to love J.P.?  Find him greater than myself?  Wow.  It is so easy to give out of duty or to get him off my back.  But The Lord loves J.P. in spite of J.P.  Whatever I do unto the least to these, I do unto Christ. 

Here I am - just absolutely baffled that someone could have the nerve to keep coming around and getting hand outs from us... and really just put out with him.  Only to realize - I am a J.P. before God.

I am dirty.  All I have is fifthly rags.  I come before God with one thing to offer: an opened hand for him to give me something.  I am addicted to getting high from things of this world that leave me crippled and needing God to drag me up off of the floor.  I am so needy.  The Lord wants to do so much for me and with me, but there I am, always begging for something more and something better.  Sure, I do good things, but my good deeds done for any reason outside of my faith in the Lord is sinful.  I am nasty and I smell horrible and no one would want to embrace me.  I am a pile of self-seeking desires.  I have no value.  I am J.P.

But the Lord.  Oh, the Lord is good.  He wraps his arms around me, and cleanses me.  He meets my needs in spite of me  No matter how far I walk away from Him, he sees me and turn to Him and he runs to me.  The Lord loves me and knows me.  He is my Savior.

"To be a true servant, a servant of humbleness, we must condescend to all the weaknesses and infirmities of out fellow-creatures, cover their frailties, love their excellencies, encourage their virtues, relieve their wants, rejoice in their properties, compassionate their distresses, receive their friendship, overlook their unkindness, forgive their malice, be a servant to servants, and condescend to do the lowest offices to the lowest of mankind."