From Interruption to Opportunity

 
It seems the crowds were always jostling Jesus.
Oh, how I can relate.
 
The disciple Mark recounts a time when Jesus was on a very important mission: to heal the dying, only-daughter of a synagogue leader.

Jesus didn’t have to stop, when the woman, haunted by bleeding, reached out and touched the tassels of his Jewish garment. Scripture informs us that she was “instantly healed”.

No, Jesus didn’t have to stop—He had met the physical need, but I get the feeling He sensed an emotional deficiency that was so much more.
 
This woman had spent 12 years bleeding,
12 years isolated and untouched in accordance with Jewish law
12 years virtually dead to her friends and family.
12 years searching for help and answers that never came.
 
Can you imagine the mental and emotional ramifications?
 
Jesus felt this need, and He stopped. He searched for her among the crowd, “Who touched my robe?”

And as the woman timidly fell to her knees, her face to his feet, He lovingly speaks words of restoration. He calls her “Daughter”. He imparts worth and declares an end to her suffering.
 
Jesus is our example.

We, too, have many important “missions” requiring our attention. They’re important.

I call myself a Christ-follower, and yet my responses often look so much unlike His…
Jesus never held back. He never put up a hand as if to say, “I’m sorry, I’m busy. What I’m doing right now is more important than you.” His responses were never lined with an air of impatience.

No, Jesus always stopped and intentionally and lovingly tended to the needs of others—but not just their physical needs.
 
People were not an interruption to Him, they were an opportunity.
 
Galatians 6:10 says, “So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers].”
 
As Christ-followers, we have the gift of discernment...

Our children’s’ needs go so much deeper than food and the latest and greatest toy.
The homeless man you pass on the way to work needs more than your dollar bill.
That friend who just lost a loved one needs more than a casserole.
 
We need to heed the draw of discernment that weighs heavy on our chest – that feeling that alerts us of an opportunity to go beyond meeting someone’s physical needs to touching the unseen places of their soul.

Like Jesus, we need to stop amidst the crushing crowds and seek out that friend, that daughter, that single mom in our church that needs encouragement, love, worth and a word from the Lord today.
 
I don’t know about you, but I need a change in my perspective—from interruption to opportunity, because the way I treat others matters more to God than any event I have scheduled, any project I will ever accomplish and any dream I will ever achieve.

Friend, every need we come across is an opportunity to give the gift of time and attention, imparting worth to one of God’s beloved.
 
So stop. Write that note, send the e-mail, or share that verse. Give a hug, speak that prayer or maybe sit alongside in silence as healing tears fall.
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We are Christ’s hands and feet to those He has placed in our lives. Despite the pressing projects and crushing crowds let us follow Jesus’ example to stop to take hold of every opportunity to do good to those around us today.

​“Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” Galatians 6:10