We’ve all heard the axiom that the hardest people to reach are those of our own household. Jesus said it himself; “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his own relatives and in his own home.” Mark 6:4 NIV. But lest I begin to feel sanctimonious about the lack of honor I may or may not receive, I’d like to address some reasons faith may ring hollow in the ears of someone I’m trying to reach for Christ— because while I might find it easy to be a witness online or off, I might neglect to reach out in any meaningful way on an emotional level to another.

My witness and yours become hollow if we remain unavailable emotionally in ways that fail to validate the needs of someone else living in distress or emotional pain. People need more connection than just reading the positive platitudes we post in hopes they will read them. I know it can be a struggle. Perhaps another family member is opposed to you intervening on someone else’s behalf. They may feel people are responsible to ‘sleep in the bed they’ve made’— except I can’t get past this wonder of wonders: Jesus didn’t leave us alone to sleep in the bed we made! “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NIV. It’s okay for you and I to do good for people when they “don’t deserve it.” That’s when faith rings the truest.

Avoiding a hollow faith requires self-sacrifice and commitment. Please check out what God asks of us in Isaiah 58:6-12 CSB. In this passage God gives clear direction to all who have the privilege of being a blessing, and God also promises tremendous blessings in return.

 
His chosen ‘fast’ is this; ‘to ‘share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not ignore your own flesh and blood’. It doesn’t get much clearer than that.