“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
- Ephesians 2:10 ESV
I was sitting on the porch this morning watching my human do what he does most mornings.
Coffee in one hand.
Bible in the other.
Me at his feet.
Now, I’ve spent enough time watching humans to know they talk a pretty good game when it comes to loving their neighbor.
But Jesus didn’t just talk about love.
He showed it.
He touched the untouchable.
He noticed the overlooked.
He stopped for the hurting.
He fed the hungry.
He forgave the guilty.
He welcomed the outsider.
He saw people differently than everybody else saw them.
And that got me thinking.
Maybe that’s what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
It’s more than wearing a Christian T-shirt, putting a Bible verse on Facebook, or saying, “I’ll pray for you.”
It means seeing as He sees.
That guy everybody else walks past?Jesus sees him.
That woman who seems to have made a mess of her life?
Jesus sees her.
That person who gets on your last nerve?
Yep. Jesus sees them too.
And if I’m going to follow Jesus, I need to learn to see people through His eyes instead of my own.
Then there’s feeling as He feels.
Jesus had compassion.
He wept with those who were hurting.
He was moved by people who were lost and broken.
Sometimes being the hands and feet of Jesus means slowing down long enough to care.
And then there’s loving as He loves.
That’s the hard one.
Because Jesus didn’t tell us to love only the lovable.
He told us to love our enemies, forgive those who hurt us, serve those who can’t repay us, and care for people who may never care for us in return.
That kind of love doesn’t come naturally.
It comes from Jesus living in us.
My human took another sip of coffee and turned the page in his Bible.
I looked down at my paws.
They aren’t much to look at.
But I guess God doesn’t need impressive hands and feet.
He just needs willing ones.
Maybe that’s the lesson today.
Jesus is still reaching people.
Sometimes He reaches them through a hand extended.
Sometimes through feet willing to go.
Sometimes through eyes willing to see.
Sometimes through a heart willing to love.
So today, Lord, make me more than someone who talks about following You.
Make me someone who looks like You.
Help me see what You see.
Feel what You feel.
Love as You love.
And when You put someone in my path today…
Help me remember:
I might just be the hands and feet You intend to use.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
