LORD OPEN OUR EYES:

SHOW US HOW TO HELP THOSE IN NEED 

CAST:

​Mother  - Devoted Christian

Dean - pre-teen son 

Deana - teenage daughter  

Ben - male stranger

Carol -female stranger

NARRATOR: This story is about a Christian family who attends church regularly and also spends time in study of God’s Word.

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SCENE ONE: 

NARRATOR:  This is a typical week day evening.  Mother is putting the finishing touches on dinner while Dean and Deana are eagerly awaiting their meal.

Deana: Mommy please hurry up!

Dean: Mommy, a hungry! Me belly a bawl!

Mother: I will be there just remember that A only have two hands.

(carries food to the table then takes her seat)

Dean: At last! My favourite; ‘Johnny cake’ and saltfish.

Deana: I couldn’t hold out anymore.

Mother: Let us pray. Father we thank you for what we are about to receive. Bless this food to our bodies’ needs. We also pray that you would use us as your instruments to help those who are in need. In Jesus’ amen!

Dean: Amen!

Deana: Amen! Amen!

(family begins to eat and is interrupted by a knock on the door)

Mother: Coming? Who is it?

(opens door to see a beggar)

Ben: Just a moment of your time please madam.

Mother: Yes? Can I help you sir?

Ben: I was wondering if you would just please kindly please give me a half a bread and cheese. I have not eaten for the week. That’s all I asking for. If it is not too much trouble for you madam please kindly please.

Mother: The Lord is leading me to pray for you. Let us pray.

(Mother takes stranger hands to pray) 

Lord Jesus, please be with this stranger….what’s your name?

Ben: Ben

Mother: Please be with Ben, and help him to find something to eat. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

Ben: Something to drink then?

Mother: Another time. God bless you Ben. Go in peace.

(mother closes door and rejoins children at table)

(Ben leaves disappointed, rubbing his belly)

Dean: Who was at the door mommy?

Mother: Just someone asking for something to eat. Deana kindly go and get for the lemonade in the kitchen.

Deana: My favourite drink to have with my favourite meal.

(stuffs a ‘Johnny cake’ in her mouth on her way to the refrigerator)

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SCENE TWO

NARRATOR:  The family now settles down in the sitting room to view their favourite comedy.

Deana: That was so delicious mommy, My belly still full.

Dean: shhh.. I can't here the TV

Mother: Dean, kindly carry out that bag of old sweaters and put in the garbage can as the truck will pass early in the morning and I really don’t want to forget.

Dean: Mommy, this is the sweet part in the picture.

Mother: Dean!!!

Deana: Children obey your parents in the Lord

(snickers under her breath)

Dean: Yes Mommy. This ain’t fair. Why don’t you ask Deana?

(gets up reluctantly, grabs plastic bag next to the door)

Mother: It is Deana’s turn to wash the dishes this evening.

Deana: (makes a sour face)

Dean: Children obey your parents in the Lord.

(snickers under breath, dumps bag in trash can then returns to join the family)

(family is interrupted by a knock on the door)

Mother: Coming! Who is it?

(opens door to see another beggar dressed raggedly)

Stranger: Just a moment of your time please madam.

Mother: Yes? Can I help you miss?

Carol: I was wondering if you had any old clothes that you don’t want anymore. They don’t have to be in style. If it is not too much trouble for you madam, please kindly please.

Mother: I am sorry but I won’t be able to help you. But you can always visit the Red Cross when you get a chance. I can pray with you though.

(Mother takes stranger hands to pray)

Lord Jesus, please be with this stranger….what’s your name?

Carol: My name is Carol and I do plan to go to the Red Cross tomorrow but I just wanted something warm for tonight.

Mother: Yes, I understand…Lord please be with Carol and help her to find some warm clothes on this cold night. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen! God bless you Carol. Go in peace.

(mother closes door and rejoins children in the living room)

(Carol leaves disappointed, shivering with her arms wrapped around her)

Deana: Who was at the door mommy?

Mother: Just someone asking for some old clothes. I told her to go to Red Cross tomorrow. Any way, it’s time for devotions.

(turns off the television while the children groan and moan)

SCENE THREE

NARRATOR: Every evening the family takes time to read God’s Word as any devoted Christian family would do.

Mother: The scripture Reading is taken from Matthew 25:35-40. Dean please read verse 35 and 36.

Dean: Mommy A hungry again.

Deana: Mommy I tired tell you he have worms you know.

Mother: Okay you can get some milk after devotions.

Dean: For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'

Mother: Deana, your turn. Read to the end.

Deana: Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?38When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothed You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? '40And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

Mother: Let us pray. Lord we thank you for your Word. Lord, please help us to reach out to those who are less fortunate in our community. Give us hearts to love the destitute and downtrodden. Lord we ask that you would provide opportunities for us to help those who are in need, for in serving others we serve Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Dean: Amen! Time for some milo.

Deana: Amen. I am so sleepy. (yawns)

Mother: Don’t forget the dishes Deana.

(family moves towards the kitchen)

NARRATOR:

Unbelievable you may be thinking! Impossible! How could any Christian be so clueless?

Although the preceding act seems extreme, how often as Christians are we totally oblivious to the desperate cries of those who are hurting or in need, even though we come in close contact with them on a daily basis. Sadly we do not recognize the opportunities that come our way each day to serve others.

Sometimes we are so busy studying the Word that we leave little time for living the Word.

As God’s children we need to depend on the Holy Spirit at all times to reveal the obvious to us. May we be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and obey His voice.

Oh that God would open our eyes and hearts to see those who are in need around us.