Just Look At Them

This past Sunday, John and Jamie Zumwalt, founders of Heart of God ministries, were here as our mission speakers. I couldn't begin to tell you all the hard-hitting, make you think statements they made, but one thing Jamie said really stuck with me. She was ministering to women at a conference in India; at the end of the conference, the program personalities were going to pray individually for each of the 200 women. Jamie was praying over women telling them how beautiful and precious to God they were, but was not making eye contact (in that culture women won't usually look you in the eye). God spoke to Jamie and simply said, "Look at them." What a difference those words of encouragement and prayer made when they were heard by the ears AND seen by the eyes.
I thought about how often I plan mission/ministry trips and events, carry out details, write checks or spend money...doing whatever I need to do to make ministry happen, BUT I fail to "look at them." I'm so busy "meeting needs" that I miss what those in need really need - a look of love from the Savior, a look that tells them they are important, a look the restores dignity and humanity.
One of my favorite ministry passages is Jesus handing off the ministry to the disciples at the end of Matthew 9. It is also a picture of Jesus great burden for people. Verse 36 says, "When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them..."
He saw the crowds; He didn't see just a mass of people, He saw individuals and the great needs they had. Go back and read through the Gospels - when Jesus ministered to people, He pulled them close, He looked into their eyes, He touched, He got involved.
The people I minister to don't just need my money or my attention to detail; they need my attention to them. They need what I have to offer to them physically, yes, but even more they need what I can offer to their soul and spirit.
As we enter a holiday season where we are all busy, going and running and doing, it will be easy to not take the time and look at people. I don't have time to ask that weary looking checker or waitress, "How are you doing?" I really don't have time for the answer, don't want to hear it. Sounds pretty horrible doesn't it?
If I don't have time for people, time to look them in the eye, time to engage them and speak encouraging words to them, then I guess I don't have time for the things of God, for what's on His heart.

God help me "look at them."

If you haven't read this blog before and want a little more food for thought on being attentive to people, check out the post on Nov. 10 titled "Who's Slowing You Down?"