Day 20

Reach Out and Touch Someone

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Communication is easier now that it has ever been. Whenever we need to get in touch with somebody, we call, e-mail, or text, regardless of where we are and where they are. Geography isn’t an issue; we can instantly send a message to someone halfway around the world. Some people even text each other while they are in the same house––just because they don’t want to get up and go to another room. Without much effort, we are almost always “connected” if we want to be. But have you thought about what we may be losing when we depend more on electronic contact and less on face-to-face communication? Our deepest, most meaningful relationships develop in one-on-one time and extended conversation. When we’re with others, we understand them much better. We can read facial expressions, pick up on emotional responses, and communicate our own feelings very clearly. The result is more interaction, more depth, and more substance. I believe that if Jesus had all the communication tools of today at His disposal, He would still choose to spend His time face-to-face with His disciples. He would still heal people by touching them physically and be close enough to them that when He spoke to them they could hear the compassion in His voice. His presence in itself would be meaningful. God designed relationships to be developed and strengthen through personal, face-to-face interaction. That’s how we really bond with other people. The communication tools available to us today are wonderful. It’s great to be able to get in touch with people anywhere, anytime, and I wouldn’t want to go back to being unable to contact someone easily when I’m out of town or need a quick response on an urgent matter. I like being able to keep in touch with my kids regardless of where they are. But when we start to depend on technology as a substitute for one-on-one time with each other, we are missing an important key to relationships. In forming virtual bonds, we may be forsaking the benefits of true human interaction. We need to make sure we’re not so connected with everything out there that we miss the chance to connect with the people directly in front of us.

UNCOMMON KEY> Being connected means thinking of others and reaching out. Make that happen as often as you can.

What is God saying to you right now? Jot down those thoughts and pray them back to Him.

This devotion was taken from: The One Year–UNCOMMON LIFE–Daily Challenge; May 9; by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker