Monday, February 7, 2011

Can a Hot Meal Prevent Suicide?

A man in Seattle living in an alley decided there was absolutely no hope. He had no job, no family, was addicted to alcohol and drugs, losing all hope and the will to live. Therefore, he decided to commit suicide.

Realizing that before someone died, one usually wants a last good meal, he went to a rescue mission in Seattle. At the mission he had what he thought was his last hot meal. However, it was served with love, compassion, kindness, and concern by the Christian staff. This caused the man to have a glimmer of hope. Later he heard the Gospel of Christ, turned from sin, trusted the Savior.

What opened the door for him was simply kindness of Christians reaching out with a hot meal with concern. Kindness is not the Gospel, but it opens the door for one to hear and respond to the Gospel.

We are concerned about a person’s suffering, hunger and pain, but especially the pain and suffering of an eternity separated from God.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

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