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Visiting is our Christian privilege and duty; for Christ visited. When Mary and Martha lost their brother Lazarus, Jesus went to them and
comforted Martha with a message of resurrection John 11:1.27); therefore, we are also to visit others in their times of need. This study
is intended to give scriptural reasons for visitation and also to look at some suggestions which are intended only to admonish.
First let us look at some biblical illustrations of visitation. The Bible is our rule of faith and practice; therefore, if the Bible teaches us to
visit, we should then be busy in this work. In the Old Testament book of 2 Kings, we find Joram wounded in battle with the Syrians.
He went to Jezreel to recuperate, allowing the healing process to take place. The King of Judah, Ahaziah "went down to see Joram the son
of Ahah in Jezreel,because he was sick" (2 Kings 8:29).This constituted visitation of the sick!Another case was a terminally ill prophet named
Elisha. Though he was on his death bed and nothing could be done by mortals to save him, yet Joash went to see Elisha (2 Kings 13:14).
Still another instance of visitation of the sick is a beautiful illustration of genuine concern. Job not only lost all his children and possessions,
but he also lost his health. He was smitten with boils to such an extent that he was not easily recognized by his friends. Three of them went
to see Job and stayed with him for seven days. They went because "they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with
him and to comfort him" Gob 2:11). In the New Testament, Paul encourages us to "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them
that weep" (Rom. 12:15).When a person is in trouble and deep sorrow fills his soul, he needs someone to care and share his burdens. We
can help by visiting the sick and bereaved. Jesus reinforced Christian visitation in the parable of the sheep and goats in Mt. 25:31-46. He
said to the righteous "...I was sick, and ye visited me" (Mt. 25:36). They responded by asking, "...when saw we thee sick, or in prison,
and came unto thee?" (Mt. 25:39). He replied with this explanation, "...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of
the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Mt. 25:40). There are other reasons for visitation. Jesus talked to Peter about
strengthening his brethren (Luke 22:32). Peter needed some changes to take place in his own life; once they had occurred, then he would
be able to encourage others to be strong in the Lord (Eph. 6:10).This lesson should teach us that we will have little success in helping others
improve their lives, until first we have our own lives under control. To effectively encourage others, we must show them as well as tell
them.
James gives us still another reason for visitation. If a brother or sister in Christ has fallen into sin and error and has drifted away from the
Lord and His church, what should we do? Should we sit back and wait until he is consumed and destroyed by the situation, or should
we go to him in love and endeavor to lead him back to the good and right ways of God? Of course the latter is what we should do. James
said, "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the
error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" Games 5:19-20). The objective in this kind of visitation is
conversion, which means changing. If we are blessed to succeed, the person will be changed to what he should be. Even if we fail, we shall
still have tried. Such conversion should be considered for all who give evidence that grace has touched their lives. Some may never have
had the benefit of biblical teaching; but, because we care, we can help convert them from error to truth, from sin to service.
Christian visitation should be a vital part of our religion. In fact, one essential component of pure religion is - to visit!James said "Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted
from the world" Games 1:27). Personal visits may be made as part of a planned program or may be on an individual basis. Such visits
are needed by the family of God, and even if no one else knows what we do, it is sufficient to know that God sees and approves. He approves
of visitation, because He has taught it through the Scriptures which we have previously considered. Such visitation is to be performed not
only by the pastor, but also by every member of the church. Of the seven Scripture references considered, only one was written to and
about a minister - Peter. The rest involved the laity of the church, showing that visiting is as much church members' duty as it is the
pastors'. Let us join our hearts together, committed to the noble work which is ordained by our heavenly Father.
In performing this spiritual service, we need to consider some attitudes and objectives which will be helpful to us. Attitude is of utmost
importance. The person we visit is going to sense our attitude; so we should go to him in love John 15:12), sympathy (Heb. 13:3), and
kindness (Eph. 4:32). Remember that we are going to him, first, in the name of Jesus, for we are His ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20); therefore,
we should manifest a genuine concern for him, as is manifested by Jesus. Also we are going to him in the name of the church and we
should make it evident that the church loves him and cares about his circumstances. We can best prepare ourselves by prayer, asking
God to help us see his value as a person and then manifest the proper attitude by a desire to help him. Prayer time before the visit is of vital
importance.
There are some things you should not do during visitations. (1)Do not criticize the one you are visiting; if you do, you may damage the
relationship and it is unlikely that much good will be accomplished. If he has done wrong the wrongdoing might not be his alone; the
church may also bear part of the responsibility by having failed to meet the needs of that person in a crisis. It matters not so much who
is wrong; making things right is the principal objective. If you address the problem, it is essential that you do so in love. (2) Do not
visit while you are emotionally depressed. This is very important for all kinds of visits but especially for visits to the sick and bereaved.
They are already feeling discouraged and need to be lifted up by your visit. They do not need your burdens to add to their already heavy
load. (3) You should not stay too long or make your visit a hurried one. Your visit should be long enough to help, but not long enough
to be tiresome.
There are also some things you should do as a visitor (1)Do listen to the person you are visiting. If he is burdened or shut-in, he needs
to talk and you should be willing to listen. (2) Try to listen to where he is coming from. Hear not just his words, but hear his deeper feelings.
If you are going to help, you must be able to sense the problem even if he chooses not to tell you what it is. (3) Be interested in him
and his welfare and let him know that you are there because you care. Before leaving, ask if there is anything that you can do to be of help.
(4) Tell him good things about the church and the blessings of God. Give him study sheets, bulletins, or other publications that might
be of help to him. (5) If you have the opportunity, read something from the Bible to him. Sharing God's Word is the greatest gift we
can give. If he allows no opportunity to do so, then mention that at a future visit you hope to have time to read the Bible with him,
but don't pressure him about it. (6)Finally, ask if you can have prayer with him before you leave, for we are taught to pray for one another
Games 5: 16). Your prayer may be very simple, but this will end the visit on a spiritual note.
In conclusion, remember that as you visit the recipients of God's grace, you in effect visit Jesus. He said, in referring to visitation, "...Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of the least of these TO' brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Mt. 25:40). Visit those who are in need
and do it as unto the Lord.
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