One came for you when you were lost. Are you seeking the one who is now where you once were?
Jesus came for us. He sought us when we were wandering and lost. We are to mirror what Jesus does. Don’t hesitate to help someone simply because you “feel” uncomfortable, incapable or unqualified. Those very reasons are exactly why God can work through us the best. Isn’t it 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 that declares that when we are weak, God is strong in and through us? “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
So, how is it that most of us help lead others to the Lord? I’m sure we all do things here and there to personally speak to others to show the love of God. But, to me, and maybe I’m wrong here … it seems entirely too much like it just easy for us to give money and believe that our job is done. Now, please understand that I’m not trying to discourage us from giving. No, that’s not the point of this. Don’t stop giving. But, what I am attempting to do is to get us to look at things in a different light. My question here is: Are we giving only and not stretching ourselves in other ways … like going to the “one” in our world who is lost? Is it easier for us to give money because we don’t have time to “go after the one?” Maybe, just maybe, we’re so busy “making money” that we don’t actually make time to stretch ourselves to be more like Jesus … choosing to go after the one.
Who in your world crosses your path on a regular basis and you choose to not reach out or show them the love of Christ because of inconvenience, lack of time, or feeling unqualified?
I believe in our world where the popular saying is “time is money,” we have given too much power to that belief. Is it money that matters the most? Is it time that matters the most? Or … is it people who matter the most?
What if that person we neglected to speak to or pray for died only moments after we decided that we didn’t have time … or we were uncomfortable about it? I don’t say this to condemn or shame us in any way! I say it to open our eyes to view things from another angle … a wider, broader angle … attempting, in our humanness, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to see what God sees … instead of our narrow, limited, humanistic vision.
In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus tells a parable about the Good Samaritan. He said there was a man who had been physically attacked, robbed and left on the side of the road for dead. Now, after this had happened, a priest and and Levite passed by the injured man. These two religious people were so busy about their “religious busy-ness” that they chose not to show love to this injured man on the side of the road. Later, a Samaritan passed by. He not only stopped to help the man, but he paid a local innkeeper to take care of man … because, like every one else he was busy also. The difference is love. The Samaritan man stretched himself in this situation and he showed love.
Now, in that day, Samaritans were not looked upon kindly by the Jews. They avoided one another. Oh, I just love how Jesus used the example of a Samaritan doing the right thing when the religious leaders of His own ethnicity chose to walk away. Jesus not only gave us an example of how to treat others here, but He also showed us that salvation is also for the gentiles. And, he used a Samaritan man to stir the people up … to make them think. Jesus had a wonderful way of illustrating with words so that we all can learn how to be more like him.
Symbolically (hopefully, not physically), have you ever been in the same position of the injured man? I have. And, I have, many times, experienced the busy-ness of the first two examples. Often, my thoughts have been … “just go to church because you don’t have the time for me.” I remember I said it out loud one time and the look I got was incredible. I then explained that these people were too busy with “church” that they refused to take time out to help. I wasn’t asking for money or handouts. I was looking to connect with another human being. I needed help in dealing with a very challenging situation in my life. I received no help whatsoever.
I have to tell you. I didn’t let those experiences stop me from God’s will for my life. Those people chose not to help. But, I didn’t choose to stop pursuing God because of those people. Don’t let that happen to you in your walk. I see so many people who look to imperfect humans to find God. Yes, God works through human beings and we are able to see that. But, we are imperfect humans. We are not God. Only God is God. Don’t forget that. And, because of these things that I have experienced, I have made the decision to pursue being the third man in the parable. I don’t want to be the busy religious men who are lacking love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 I want to be like Jesus, who leaves the ninety-nine.
With all of that said, I want to be the one who goes after the missing or hurting one in my world. I know what it feels like to be “left on the side of the road, hurting.” Now that I’m upright, healed, and walking, I want to be the one who seeks out the lost and hurting.
Are you leaving the ninety-nine to seek the lost and hurting one? Or are you simply busy entertaining the ninety-nine? There is a difference. Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:4
At the beginning of this piece, I stated that many people choose to not reach out because they feel uncomfortable, incapable, or unqualified. I’d like to address this a bit further. We live in a world of Master’s degrees and PhD’s. If we don’t have the proper “education,” we “cannot get a good job.” Well, okay. That seems to be where our world is right now … and … there’s nothing wrong with education … nothing at all. But, again, I’d like to broaden our perspective. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. I Corinthians 3:19 If we are followers of Christ and we believe that He is who He says He is, don’t we know the One who knows literally everything? I mean, I don’t need a Master’s degree or a PhD to know and believe that. Not only do I have direct access to God Almighty, I have an intimate relationship with Him! James 1:5 tells me that If I lack wisdom, all I have to do is ask for it. Our world is so hung up on education that many are missing the simplicity of who God is. He is everything … which is so much more than any degree. (again, I’m not against education). If we feel uncomfortable about helping someone, we only need to ask Him to help us through a situation. If we feel or are incapable of something we only need to ask Him for help. If we feel unqualified, again, we need only ask. “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” Luke 11:11-13.
May I suggest that in many, many ways, we have become so educated that we have fallen into the trap that we believe that we have things figured out instead of fully relying on God? I really do believe that many within the church believe that all that’s needed for a “successful church” is simply a good formula. I literally had someone speak that to me within the past several weeks. No … no … the only formula there is, is more prayer to our Heavenly Father. And, I don’t need an education to know that prayer is the answer.
Our nation claims to be a Christian nation. I do believe that we are and that it was founded on Christian beliefs. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be as blessed with all that we have been and been able to be a blessing to so many others. But, I believe we are in that phase where the generations have become spoiled and perhaps a bit ungrateful for the prayer and hard work that has brought us to this point. I believe many of us are coasting on the prayers, reliance on God, and hard work of generations long before us.
We need to change our perspective.
Perhaps that will take place from our knees … in prayer.
Don’t stop giving. In fact, Lord willing, I encourage you to give more! Step out of that box you’ve allowed yourself to be contained in. Reach out to the “stranger” that you, in the past, have chosen not to reach out to for whatever reason. Allow God to be your strength and your wisdom. Pray Luke 12:12 over your situations. The Holy Spirit will give you what you need to say in the moment that you need it. Allow God to work through you. Let Him do things His way. Remember, we don’t have all the answers, but, we know the One who does. It’s not our job to save people. Jesus already took care of that. It’s our job to make ourselves available. More than likely, we won’t be perfect when we take these steps. That’s ok, learn from the mistakes. That’s how we grow.
So, in this new year, I encourage you to be courageous and go after the “one” wandering astray in your world. And remember, One came for you, gave His life, and went the distance for you when you were the one who was wandering astray!
Make it an excellent 2018! God bless!
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