Right under our nose

The Casting Crowns song "Does anybody hear her" really got me thinking. We so often just get into the "routine" of church. We go and sit by the same people, talk to the same people, and try and reach out to the same people every week. These people are those that we are most comfortable around. We do not see, or chose to ignore, the person who comes every week who is alone, hurting, or struggling. And what about that new person who we so skillfully avoid? It is sad how often we do not take the time to talk to somebody or to care enough to look and see that something is not right. It can be so easy to go to church thinking about "what I can gain", but really it shouldn't! I know we've been preached this many times but it takes lots of work.

Naturally as humans we care for ourselves above others, but as Christians we are not the natural human! We need to set out looking at how we can help and disciple others. Like the song says, there are people in our church who are searching for the hope that is tucked away in us. And so many people are trying to eat steak when they really need milk, but we are to blind to see it. These people often won't come out and ask it so we need to see it, and not just see it but do something about it.

Our conversations with these people need to go farther than the weather. Most people want to open up, but there is no listening ear to hear and no biblical counsel to aid.

Our church is usually very good at this, but still it is the same few that take visitors under their wing. It should be our challenge to break out of our comfort zone so we can grow. We should try to even talk outside of church to check on them. It is amazing the warmth a person can feel from a caring church family, especially if they don't have a family.

I realize we cannot go out and get every ones life story and be best friends with all, but we can sure impact some lives if we would just open our eyes.