Choose to Bless Someone
Accidentally, or On Purpose
“…He went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).
The very heart and nature of Jesus impelled Him to be a blessing to all whom He encountered. When Peter spoke to the Gentile, Cornelius, he highlighted and began with this truth: “Jesus of Nazareth … God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:34–43). Blessing people, meeting their needs where they were in life, this is the portrait of Jesus that must grab our attention and hold it.
Worshipping together is uplifting. Learning His ways is both amazing and awe inspiring. But these two — worshipping and learning — if they are to amount to anything worth mentioning must work together to compel us to action. People still need His blessing. They still wander our streets, lanes, back roads, or parks. As Jesus once said, you will always have the poor among you. He also said, go find them.
Our Blessing Bag program is designed both to bless someone on the street with immediate relief AND to give us opportunity to engage them in one-on-one conversation. I start by introducing myself and our program, then asking about them. The bags contain sparse but necessary items. The encounter will not solve their need; but it will provide some warmth and nourishment. More importantly, it will provide genuine caring conversation. Participation is never mandatory; but everyone who steps up and steps out will feel the blessing. Why not you?
My title for this note comes from two parables Jesus taught. The Hid Treasure: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matt. 13:44). And, The Pearl of Great Price “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matt. 13:45–46). They are essentially identical in every regard except this: In the first, the fellow accidentally found the treasure; while in the second, after purposefully looking for the precious pearl, the merchant found it. One went looking (intentional) and the other stumbled on to it (accidental).
For me, this describes how I come to distribute our Blessing Bags. Sometimes, like yesterday, I purposely went out of my way to find someone with whom to share the blessing. I found her; her name is Rose. We shared a pleasant conversation; she gladly accepted the gift; and then we prayed together. At other times I will be on my way to an appointment, not looking for street people, but I will encounter someone. On such an occasion, I will stop and go through a similar exchange. In both cases—intentional or accidental—the encounter leaves a blessing behind.
Will this change the face of Auburn? Not likely. But it will activate us; and bigger things always result from being active. Plus, it will give the ones we encounter a moment of joy and connection. Perhaps one or two of them will “come back for more.” Since we leave them our phone number, maybe they will want to share our love in deeper, spiritual ways, too. It is my hope and prayer.