Eyes Open, Antenna Up

We have been given the capacity to love, because the love of God resides in the hearts of all who have called upon the name of Christ.  From that love relationship with Him, we can be filled with
love for other people. 1st John 3 says:
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Jesus calls us to a life of humility - we humble ourselves before Him and become sensitive to the direction of His Holy Spirit.  So, we walk with our eyes open and our spiritual antenna up, looking for ways in which we can express the love of God; and as that love is expressed, we can testify to our Savior's love for all by our words and our deeds.  We are called to a life of love, and we can allow ourselves to be directed by the Spirit in how we are to minister.

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In Acts 20, we can read an exhortation by the apostle Paul to walk in the grace of God, and that
includes showing grace to others. He states:
32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

Levi Jones is a teenager who is apparently doing things the right way, and it's a cause for celebration.  Levi, like many teens across America, works at Chick-fil-A.  He is employed at one of the restaurants over in Columbus, GA.

While at work, Levi observed a homeless man named Walter.  Levi told News 3 in Columbus:

"Walter was sitting under that tree right there, kind of slumped over. He had his eyes closed, looked very tired. I went over to him. God led me over there to speak to him. I asked him how he was doing..if I can get him any food. I noticed he didn't have on any shoes on his feet. The Lord told me to give my shoes to him and that's exactly what I did," says Jones.

Levi's shoe size was the same as Walter's.  However, that left Levi with a bit of a predicament.  The story continues:

After tending to the man in need, getting him a meal, and the man's favorite drink (Dr. Pepper), Jones returned back to work without shoes. Management was kind enough to give Jones shoes that were available, but they were four sizes too big.

But, Levi did not complain about those excessively large shoes.

The operator of the Chick-fil-A, Todd Kalish, is quoted, referring to the chain's founder, Truett Cathy: "Truett told us always obey your kindhearted impulses and so you're kind of channeling that and he really didn't even learn that or hear that,.It's just kind of in his DNA..."

Levi Jones is quoted as saying: "I love Jesus and as His son. I'm called to live and walk just like Jesus did on the earth. Jesus hung around homeless people. He took care of people, loved on people, blessed people wherever He went and so I just wanna walk as my Father which is Jesus Christ walked and live that out every single day of my life..."

The fact that Levi was willing to sacrifice a pair of shoes speaks volumes, and it was a great demonstration of humility: he gave what he had to meet another person's need, and of course, that meant that he no longer had a pair.  He worked the rest of his shift in shoes that were four sizes too big - and he didn't complain.  Sometimes charity can involve no sacrifice, but perhaps the most meaningful form occurs when we actually give up something, we give of ourselves.

Levi Jones empathized with Walter, and that is a quality that I think we all would do well to emulate - to shift the analogy somewhat, we can seek to perhaps walk in someone else's shoes.  It's hard to imagine some of the dire circumstances through which people walk, and I think it is a Christlike quality to be able to develop sensitivity to the plight of people in need.

For instance, there's an inspiring story out of Montgomery, for which Billy Irvin brought you coverage last week: the opening of Mercy House.  It was developed in partnership with Common Ground Ministries, which posted on its website: "Open every day, this ministry houses a food pantry and a clothes closet to serve people in need." It also meets "emergency food needs" and includes hot meals. The ministry also plans to be involved in helping people to develop life skills. The site says,"TMH’s desires are, through teaching, to elevate people from poor behaviors, bad practices, life circumstances beyond their control, and generational bondage to the plan that God has for their lives."  This can serve as an inspiring example of how we can exercise sensitivity to the Spirit of God as He leads, a sensitivity exercised by young Levi Jones in Columbus.