Counsels on Relationships
Counsel #21 — Seeing the Unseen
Picture: Counsel #21 — Seeing the Unseen CR 23.1
Have you ever seen someone sitting by themselves at school, church, or even at a restaurant? Did you stop to talk to them? In life, it’s easy to assume that people prefer to be by themselves, but often, people are just waiting for someone to notice them. CR 23.2
Society often labels people who keep to themselves as “loners,” but as Christians, we should take the time to get to know people beyond what we see. For example, a person sitting alone in church could just have lost their parent or spouse and is looking for comfort and guidance on how to pursue God for healing. What if you see a kid sitting alone in the cafeteria at lunch? Most kids would jump to the conclusion that he’s “lame,” but in reality, he could be contemplating taking his life. The point is, we can’t ever know what’s going on in the mind of anyone, let alone the minds of the isolated. All we can do is pray to God for direction and the right words when an opportunity arises to share His love.14 CR 23.3
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40 NIV CR 23.4
“Kindness and love and courtesy are the marks of the Christian.” Ellen White in My Life Today, p. 178 CR 23.5
Reflect: How can you make someone feel seen and valued today? CR 23.6