“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30).

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6).

This devotional is a departure from our current series on the Songs of Ascent. The recent tragic events have weighed on my heart, and I felt that I could not keep silent. But what to say? How can anything I say ever be enough? I love all my brothers and sisters in Christ, and as the Scriptures call us to do, I “mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15).

I also know that talk is cheap, and the solution is to put our money where our mouths are, to be proactive. And we, as laborers for the Kingdom at Nashville Rescue Mission, do just that every day. I am so proud to be working “shoulder to shoulder” with each of you as you obey your calling to do the Lord’s work serving the hungry, hurting, and homeless.

Some use these tragic events to politicize, to polarize, to divide. That is not my agenda. For me, there is only one side, and that is on the side of Jesus. He said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” When all is said and done, I want to be found with you on the only side that counts. Jesus taught us many things about how to be on his side, including who and how to love.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is good teaching on this subject. The .Good Samaritan went out of his way to rescue a traveler who was robbed and beaten by thieves. Jesus told this parable to answer the question of who to love. The Jewish leaders had challenged Jesus to identify the greatest commandment, and Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy to tell them that loving God was the greatest commandment, but the close second was to love your neighbor as yourself. They then wanted an exact definition of “neighbor.” So, by telling this parable, Jesus explained that “who to love” is anyone we come in proximity with, regardless of whether they are in our circle of family and friends. At Nashville Rescue Mission, you serve anyone without regard to sex, race, color, religion, or ethnicity.

I propose that this story also tells us how to love. The Good Samaritan went out of his way to see to this injured stranger; he cared for this stranger with all diligence and urgency, just like he would have cared for his own family, and just like he would have wanted to be cared for himself. I have witnessed more than once the selfless way that you care for those who find their way to the Mission, so many times without regard for your own welfare.

For most of you, you have taken the proactive step of loving your neighbor by working for Nashville Rescue Mission. While there will always be room for improvement, I believe we are like-minded in our pursuit of the mission of the Mission: “Providing hope for today, hope for tomorrow, and hope for eternity to the hungry, hurting, and homeless.”

This song, “Bleed the Same,” by Mandisa from 2017, performed by her along with TobyMac and Kirk Franklin, eloquently expresses these thoughts.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6).

In Christ,

Judy