True Love Series

Jesus felt their pain in His gut, and He wants us to do the same. He wants us to feel for the needs of others, even if they’re not a part of our group, or even if they’re not “our kind of people.”

Lee Eclov, a pastor in an Evangelical Free Church north of Chicago, talks about a time he was in a pastor’s group where one of the brothers spoke about how heavyhearted he was. A mother-daughter duo was constantly coming to him for money and help. It had started with one of those phone calls looking for a handout and never stopped. They never came to church or showed any interest in the Lord. But the thing was, he cared about them and had helped them again and again. He asked the other pastors to pray for him, because he felt so sad about the many needy people who called or came to the church door.

The other pastors jumped to his aid. “You can’t let these people get to you,” said one of them. Another informed him, “In our church we have a policy that these calls all go to one of the elders. I don’t ever get involved.” Pastor Eclov said, “I think I know those two. We gave them some money. I can’t believe they’re still making the rounds.”

Then it hit him. “You’re not asking us for our advice, are you?” Pastor Eclov said in embarrassment. The other pastor shook his head. Humbled, they all prayed for his heavy heart, as he had asked.

Pastor Eclov said, “In those moments, I realized that by loving those difficult people, people the rest of us preferred to ignore, our friend was sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Here we were trying to make his troubles go away, when Jesus wanted to meet him there.” (Lee Eclov, Pastoral Graces, Moody, 2012, pp. 39-40; www.PreachingToday.com)

It’s in those places that Jesus wants to meet us, as well. They are the places of pain and need, the places no one else wants to go to. But too often our own hearts are callous and hard to the needs all around us. I know my own heart is. I’d rather not deal with other people’s problems,

If you have the same problem, then let’s ask Jesus to help us. Let’s ask Jesus to give us His heart of compassion that not only sees the need, but feels the need, as well.

One time there was an old sailor dying in a Navy hospital, and a young Catholic priest was sent to do the last rites over him. The young priest said to the old man, rather mechanically, “My son, are you sorry for all your sins?”

He was astonished to hear the old sailor say, “To be honest with you, Padre, I’m not. I rather enjoyed all of that whiskey I drunk. I rather liked all those Jezebels in all the ports of the world. I know it’s probably not what you’re supposed to say, but if I’m going to be honest, Padre, I have to tell you that I’m not sorry.”

Then the young priest said, “Well, let me ask you another question. Are you sorry that you’re not sorry?”

There was a long pause, and the priest saw tears beginning to form in the eyes of the old sailor. Finally he said with great conviction, “You know, Padre, I can say that. I am sorry that I’m not sorry.” (John Claypool, "You Don’t Have to Be Good to Come to Christ," Preaching Today, Tape No. 83; www.PreachingToday.com)