Sit With Someone

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)
 
In the book Messy Spirituality, the authors tell the story of a young missionary who knocked on the door at a home in a large urban city with hopes of sharing the Gospel and starting a church. A single mother of three answered the door, and much to his chagrin the bothered mother said, “Unless you and God go and get me a pack of pampers, food for these kids, some cigarettes, and a beer then get out of my face and don’t knock on my door.”  
 
The young missionary felt overwhelmed, so he prayed and asked God what he should do. The Spirit replied, “She already told you.” So, he got up, went to the store, bought some pampers, a food card, a pack of cigarettes, and a beer, and went back to the woman’s house and asked if he could sit with her for about an hour while she ate her lunch.  
 
The woman was stunned not just by his gesture, but also by the fact that he didn’t judge her. Thirty years later, that young woman was celebrated as the first and longest member of that missionary’s church.  
 
Sometimes we have to get out of our comfort zones and have a conversation with people before we try to convert them. Sometimes we have to listen to people, live with people, and learn from them before we try to diagnose them and presume we know what they need. What makes Jesus remarkable is not just that He is God who is above us, but He is also Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Too many Christians miss the opportunity to minister to people because we stay so far above them that we don’t spend time with them. So let’s be the kind of believers who sit with people first.