“Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” Luke 10:37, NIV
Love is often inconvenient.
If you want to serve like Jesus, be open to interruptions. This means holding on to your schedule with a loose grip. This may be difficult for you! For some people, just the thought of deviating from their plans leads t anxiety.
The reality is that people need you when they need you. Their hour of need won’t fall neatly into the part of your schedule set aside for helping others.
Jesus taught that we should be like the traveling Samaritan. He allowed his schedule to be interrupted so he could care for a man left for dead.
Paul had plans to go to Rome and he eventually made it – as a prisoner! He was willing to have his plans interrupted to serve where God wanted him to serve.
Not every interruption is truly an interruption – not from God’s point of view. He might be providing you an opportunity that you didn’t plan for. Because God’s plans are bigger than your plans, this is bound to happen! Next time you think, “I don’t have time for this!” follow that with this quick prayer: “God, is this what you have for me to do?”
We can always find excuses not to help someone: “I have my own problems,” “I have a previous commitment,” “I know someone else will help,” and “I have other responsibilities I can’t sacrifice.”
God intentionally puts hurting people in your path so that you will learn to love like Jesus. Loving others can be more than inconvenient. God might be calling you to make a great sacrifice of your time, energy, or money. Today, are you ready for an interruption?
If the opportunity comes from God, it’s not really an interruption; it’s your destiny.