Meeting Them Where They Are

 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.  Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.  But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.  1 Timothy 1:12-16

 We all have different strengths.  People have told me that I tend to be very good at reading people.  It’s not in the sense of reading someone playing poker as to whether they are bluffing or not.  Instead, I continually work at getting to know someone.  Before you know it, I would become very good at understanding what someone would and would not like.  I trust God to guide my instincts and literally feel what they feel. It explained why some people were willing to share their pains and anxieties to me after an hour what they would not share with their close friends in a couple of years.  I tried to understand that.  Someone said that people see me at their level.  They said if you want someone to trust you, don’t bring them to your level.  Understand them at theirs.  For example, I honestly cannot relate to someone having to worry about where they would sleep at night because that’s not be in my world.  That does not mean I don’t have empathy for them.  Furthermore if I just listen to understand, I can connect it to the last time I was afraid at night or fearful for my life.  Is it the same?  Of course not.  But by listening and just being honest with both them and yourself, you can achieve a level of trust.  That is how you meet them where they are.

The key to having God use you is realizing exactly how far you have travelled with Him.  I read these verses of 1 Timothy over and over again to understand what Paul was trying to convey.  He held Timothy in high regard as a young apprentice, but he also realized he was a spiritual mentor to Timothy.  How would he best guide him?  He took this moment to lower himself to Timothy’s level in today’s verses.  The goal was not for Paul to make himself seem worthless.  Instead, it was to help Timothy understand that anyone could be used by God if their heart was transformed.  Thus by sharing where his journey began, Paul met Timothy at his level.  “I am the worst of them all.  But God had mercy on me,” he said.  This was not only an invitation to Timothy but also all of us.  No matter how far we may have strayed and whether it was a moment, a day, months, or even years, God will patiently wait so eventually His will is done.  We could not possibly know when, and that is not our focus to begin with.  Ours is to prepare for when He will use us and be ready to allow Him to do so.

Understanding servitude to God takes time.  As I mentioned about reading others, it does not happen right away.  But over time, you become attune to what God is looking for.  It will at times require you to look back at where you once were like Paul.  But in seeing just how great God’s mercy is, you too will be able to share your story of transformation with others.  Do not forget the goal is for you to grow spiritually in addition to helping others find a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Not boast of your transformation.  Let us harken to our own journey to humble ourselves and allow others to see they too can serve Him as we now do.  How well do you know your story?  What listening skills are needed for you to understand another’s story.  My prayer is that we are able to trust God’s guidance to help us meet others where they are.  Amen.