The Five Minute Friday prompt this week is … Visit. Next week Five Minute Friday will have a new home. Be sure to go check it out HERE.
Visit – to receive or go to spend time with a person. The purpose can be to provide comfort, encouragement, or for no reason other than to spend time with someone.
The word brought to mind how Jesus, during His time here on earth, went to the homes of many for a visit. A few that quickly came to mind were the visits to:
- Peter’s home where He healed Peter’s mother-in-law
- Matthew’s home as a dinner guest
- the home of a synagogue leader, Jairus, at his request to heal his daughter
- eat dinner in the home of Simon, a Pharisee
- the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
And then there is the visit to the home of Zaccheus, where Jesus invited Himself, “Zaccheus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
(Luke 19:5b, NLT).
Jesus visited wherever and whomever He could, knowing that there is something so personal and intimate in sitting together and conversing. He shared meals with the outcast, the unwanted, and those considered sinners to extend God’s love and grace to those who would otherwise be overlooked by society.
He calls us to do the same today:
“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27, NLT)
The beauty of a visit is that it can take the form of a phone call,
a card, a text,
or a cup of coffee.
Sometimes the ministry of outreach is as simple as a visit.
Who can you visit today?
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Faith On Fire and Faith Filled Friday and Faith ”˜N Friends and Fresh Market Friday .
Stopping by from FMF, and thanking you for reminding me the simple actions of a visit is another opportunity for me to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Joann, I enjoyed the visit to your blog today. And am loving visiting you daily through SOAP girls. What a joy it will be to visit together someday with Jesus as we walk together in our eternal home. ((Hugs)) Debbie
Although nothing can replace a face-to-face visit with a dear friend, I love that we can encourage one another simply with technology!
You know I love that verse from James and your heart, Joanne. Glad we get to visit each other, thanks to the internet. xoxo
OH MY WORD we used the same image. I covered the numbers though. HOW FUNNY. #kindreds
🙂 Yes, I realized that when I read your post! Way too funny!
This is a great topic. We definitely need to make those in-person visits as intentional efforts in this age of digital substitutes. Thanks for placing this on my heart, Joanne.
This is a wonderful topic. I was just thinking this week about how I let life get in the way and don’t visit as much as I should. I was convicted about this when I called my great aunt to invite her to my house on Saturday. I occurred to me that though she only lives 12 miles away, and I drive past her house to go to church, I haven’t visited her house since fall. How embarrassing and humbling. People are what truly matter but often I let the busyness of live get in the way of spending time with those who matter the most.
Joanne,
So good that I found you. In my decision to take 30 minutes every Friday and visit those who write for FMF – I’m glad to have the chance to meet someone I know.
Lovely post. Yes I need to do more personal visits as well. That’s in the plans. For now it will be online.
Many blessings,
Janis
So much THIS: “The beauty of a visit is that it can take the form of a phone call,
a card, a text, or a cup of coffee. Sometimes the ministry of outreach is as simple as a visit.” I’m over in the 3 spot this week.
Beautiful, Joanne! Love your words of hope and encouragement in this week’s FMF prompt. Great job! Makes me want to go visit someone right this very minute. Thank you. Your words inspire. Keep going, friend! Blessings to you!