Editor’s note: Columns in the Faith section reflect opinions and perspectives of the writer and are not necessarily those of The Republic.
A while back, a new family moved into my neighborhood — actually, right across the street from me. The husband is in the military and has been sent here from Washington state to work at Camp Atterbury for the next three years. He has a wife and two kids.
Since my own husband was in the military 35 years, I feel like I can relate and understand many aspects of their family’s life of sacrifice and service to our country. Even if I was not a Christ follower, I would still have great admiration and respect for them. I believe they deserve nothing less!
I’ve been asking myself some questions since they moved in.
Questions like: As a Christ follower, what does God expect from me when someone, like this precious young family, moves into my neighborhood? How can I be Jesus to those whom God has placed in my path even though they may live here for just a short period of time? In what ways can I help or serve them that will be useful and will make it easy for them to see the love of Christ in me? How can I make the greatest impact for the cause of Christ?
After I asked myself these questions, there were still two very important questions left. The previous questions were those in which I asked myself, but now, God, through the Holy Spirit, wanted to ask me these questions — so he directed them straight at me.
“Nita, are you willing to do whatever I ask of you?” and, “Are you willing to set aside your own agenda, when necessary, in order to be free to do whatever I ask of you?”
Though these were the last questions, I had to give an answer to both of them before I could go any further. All other answers hinged on my answers to these two. As you can see, and as usual, God left me no wiggle room. He never does.
It’s so easy for me to be busy with my own life and miss the opportunities God puts under my nose to love people and make an impact on them for Christ.
I answered God’s two questions in the affirmative. I was serious about serving him by serving this family.
Now that I’ve answered the two questions God asked of me and to his liking, with great joy and purpose, I am free to ponder answers to the questions I asked myself.
The first and most important thing I decided to do was to start praying for this military family; especially their children. How difficult it must be for them as they miss playing, being with and talking to the friends they had “back home.”
I’m praying that God will provide “new,” Godly friends for both the children and their parents and that He will show them that they haven’t lost their old friends, but rather He wants to add some new names to the list of friends they already have.
I don’t know all the answers to the questions I asked myself at the beginning of this column, but I do know the answer to the first one which was, “What does God expect of me when someone new moves into my neighborhood?”
I believe God expects me to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as to how He wants to use me to touch them with His love, and then, to be obedient to Him in whatever He asks of me. I trust God and I know He will show me answers for the next three years, day by day, one day at a time.
Mathew 25:38-40 reads, “When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The king will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me.”
Nita Evans of Columbus is owner of Confidential Christian Counseling, focusing her work especially with ministry leaders and their families. She is also a Columbus Police Department chaplain and a national retreat and conference speaker. She can be reached at 812-614-7838 or by visiting specialspeaker.com. Send comments to editorial@therepublic.com
