Sometimes we fail to see the importance of visiting others. But, consider the following situations, and see how we respond to them.
A new couple visits our service; maybe a non-Christian. A few people act friendly to them, a few speak to them. The preacher even sends a letter to them expressing our appreciation for them coming to worship with us. We are thankful for them visiting us, but, will they come back again?
Or, there is a lonely person sitting in the nursing home. The days grow longer and longer for that person. Days, and then weeks, and then months go by. Occasionally a member of the church drops by for a brief visit, but most of the time, they feel lonely and seem to have been completely forgotten.
An elderly church member is at home, unable to assemble with the saints. Because of health and advanced years, he or she cannot attend worship. In years gone by, that saint never missed a service, but now, through no fault of their own, no one seems to remember them in their time of trial. It’s just them and the nursing home.
A new family moves into town. They are complete strangers to the town. They have no family or relatives here; they “do not know a soul.” They have no church preference. If we will visit them, and make them feel welcome, just maybe they will come to services and learn the truth.
A new family “places membership.” Maybe the preacher pays them a visit, but in the eyes of so many, “that is what the preacher gets paid for.” Would it not mean a lot more if several different members of the congregation dropped by and paid them a visit? Would that not show that we are in fact concerned for their spiritual well-being?
A member of the church loses a family member, a spouse, a child, a brother or sister. So what happens? We are usually very prompt to visit that person and express our sorrow with them, we till them we “know just how you feel.” So, at the time of the loss, and just before the funeral, we “do what we are supposed to do.” But what about those long hours, and those endless days which come after the funeral is over, when all the relatives have gone home? Do we continue to help that member through that time of grief and sorrow? Or is our feeling “Oh well, they are just going to have to get over it?”
A member of the local congregation begins to miss services. Maybe it is “just a Sunday morning Bible class.” May it is “just mid-week services.” But no one goes for a visit to express concern. That occasional miss becomes a pattern; he misses Bible class more and more often. Then, he begins to miss an occasional Sunday morning worship service. And still no one is concerned enough to go visit that missing saint. Finally, that person is seldom seen; oh maybe he is seen at the local grocery store, and when he is, we speak to him, but we seldom take the time to go to his home and visit him and talk about his “forsaking the assembly.” And whether we want to use the words or not, that person is “fallen away.” He is in a lost condition. And we need to ask ourselves, “what might have happened if some concerned Christians had made the proper, much needed visit into the home back then?”
So, is visiting important?
Is it a Christian duty?
Are we doing our Christian duty?
Love, Keith
