Loving in the Margins
January 21, 2019 by Matthew McCord
Filed under Daily Devotions, Personal Growth
Today the waiter who served me at lunch was a skinny college boy whose clothes hung off of him. He wore an odd looking hat and had piercings. He was very kind to me. The girl who took my money had dyed black hair, black fingernails, multiple piercings, and a leather bracelet, but she sang a little tune to herself and she also was very kind to me. It surprised me that they were kind, and convicted me that I was surprised. I realized that they didn’t have to be kind. I was wearing a suit and looked like an upper middle class lily-white snob. I was convicted to the point of tears when I realized that all of my life I have lived without tenderness, without humility, without gentleness toward so many. I thought I was better than them. Oh, no, I never said that out loud…not with my mouth anyway.
Jesus loved the marginalized. He knew their names. To Him they were beautiful.
I wondered if those kids who served me today went to church. I wouldn’t be surprised if they stayed away because of people like me.
I pray that God will teach me to love the marginalized…that He will teach me to live in the margin. He did.
I pray that I can see the way He does. I pray that, in time, I can serve them.
PRAYER: Lord, give me a heart that loves before it notices, that isn’t surprised by kindness, and that serves people outside the margins because You did.
“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you,” John 15:12 KJV.
Today’s devotion is by Matthew McCord. An attorney in McDonough, GA, Matt describes himself simply as a son, a brother, a friend, a musician, a teacher…and a lawyer. He is equally comfortable in the boardroom, the courtroom, the classroom, by a trout stream, and in church.
Loved your article. So true. It humbly me.
“Never judge a cover” is what I hear you say. I sometimes wonder what kind of “cover” Jesus would wear if here were living on this earth now. Actually He may be on this earth — behind those black nails, piercing and leather accessories. Great job Matt!!
This article made me stop and think about my everyday life, and the people that I come in touch with daily. Do I serve them or turn them off? This is crucial to know in our daily walk with God. It is so easy to stray off God’s intended path. Great devotion! Good job!
I think this devotion illustrates a great truth about American Christianity today. So much of who Jesus is has been lost in our own selfish beliefs about our spiritual entitlement. It is this kind of thinking that Churches across America need to hear. If more of this were taught from the pulpit, perhaps those who oppose Christianity would begin to see the beauty and love of Christ instead of the hatred, bigotry, and self-centeredness that so prevalent in our churches today.
To love others as Jesus loves me…
A worthy, daily-life goal.
That is what being the salt of the earth is all about, right?
Great word, brother…
Thnaks for the reminder. One of my constant challenges is to love those who push me out of my “comfort zone”.