Loneliness        

The Bible says, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matthew 25:41-46 (KJV)

 As his UCLA football team suffered through a poor season in the early 1970s, head coach Pepper Rodgers came under intense criticism and pressure from alumni and fans. Things got so bad, he remembers with a smile, that friends became hard to find. “My dog was my only true friend,” Rodgers says of that year. “I told my wife that every man needs at least two good friends; and she bought me another dog.”

At this time of year we tend to find ourselves very busy with planning holiday activities. Thanksgiving will soon be here with Christmas and New Year following rapidly thereafter. There is so much going on we may well forget there are many who will feel lonely, rejected, and friendless. It behooves us as Believers to remember the precious gift of life purchased for us by the very Son of God.

Let’s encourage one another to not get so busy we fail to share the blessed hope we have in Christ Jesus. People we meet need to know about the free gift of eternal life offered by our Redeemer. We may be the only “Jesus” some will see this season. People are hurting, people are lonely, people are dying. May we have the eyes of Christ Jesus to look with compassion on those around us. Also, may others see Jesus Christ shining through our lives and be moved to ask us how they too, may find peace, joy, and hope! 

    Daily Chronological Bible Reading: Matthew 25