| Thunderhugs - #4443 |
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Wednesday, January 21, 2004It was almost nighty-night time - which is always a challenge when a grandma is sitting on the babies - more commonly known as babysitting. My favorite grandma was babysitting our five and two-year old grandsons and reading them a night-night story. That's when the thunderstorm decided to really start doing its thing. Big thunder! Big lightning! Big grandson eyes! But my wife is a resourceful person. She said, "Hey, guys, did you know that every time you hear thunder, it's time for a thunderhug?" Well, they were eager to feel Grandma's hug right then. And a few other times that night. The sky would roar and they would come running saying, "It's time for a thunderhug!" I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Thunderhugs." We all need them, don't we? Especially at times when the storm is picking up and our security is shaking. I for one am deeply grateful we have in our God a Heavenly Father we can always run to and say, "It's time for a thunderhug!" And He has wonderfully promised that He is "our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear..." (Psalm 46:1-2). That's why David could say when he was a fugitive for his life, "I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:4). But we're running into people all the time who are, at that moment, in desperate need of a thunderhug - because it's lonely time, or broken time, or hurting time, or fear time. In a busy world, it's getting harder and harder to find someone who will see that you're in need of some tenderness and encouragement and stop long enough to give it. And the story our Savior told in Luke 10 is very much for you and me - and very much about people we know or people we're meeting. In answer to a question about what it means to love your neighbor - and who Jesus meant when He said "neighbor" - Jesus told about the man attacked by thieves on the Jericho Road. In Jesus' words He had been stripped, beaten, and left for dead. Two religious leaders saw the need and walked on by. Then in Luke 10:33-34, our word for today from the Word of God, Jesus said: "A Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him." So, who's your neighbor? Well, first and foremost, that person in your path who needs someone to stop and offer their love and assistance. A thunderhug in the storm. We'll never really fulfill what Jesus called the second great commandment unless we're looking for and stopping for people who need us. Or are we too busy? Too self-absorbed? Too preoccupied? If you're sitting there waiting for someone to give you some thunderhugs, your first order of business should be to look for some people who need your thunderhug. Many of us may feel we just don't have the gifts to have a speaking or teaching or music ministry. But this is ministry within the reach of every child of God! Sometimes, we avoid people in need because we're not sure what to say. It's not your words they need anyway - they need your attention, your affection, your availability. What they don't need is your analysis, your judgment, or your fixing. They need to feel the heart of Jesus through your heart and the hug of Jesus through your hug. So, open your eyes to the wounded people, the invisible people, the struggling people - and stop for them. Don't be another religious person who passes by on the other side. It may be someone when you get home tonight, someone who needs a call, a note, an e-mail. It may be someone at church, at school, at work, in the middle of your errands - but if you'll look at their face and listen for their heart, you'll know the storm is really intense for them right now. And you'll know what time it is. It's time for a thunderhug! Share or Bookmark This Page       |
