Current topic: Pray with Us for Struggling Christians and Persecuted Church. Remember you can still pray for Families and the Church.
Good morning.
Had Jesus to come today for the first time, where would we find him? As you read this study consider your own geographical area, circle of influence, circumstances etc. and try doing some self-examination. Don’t think of Him coming into Israel for the Jews.
When Jesus came to earth as recorded in the Bible, He came to the simple people, so we most likely would find Jesus somewhere in a slum, an informal settlement or shanty town, around the fire in an African or third world village, in district sixteen of the Bronx or the dangerous parts of any big city. He would be busy healing those who cannot afford going to a doctor, meeting the needs of those who sleep outside on the streets. He would be the talk of the downtown people, but would the rich, or shall I say the middleclass in today’s distribution of riches, know about Him and if they hear of Him through the media, would they bother to find out what He’s like.
To be noticed in today’s society a person must be of some acclaim and at least be presentable to a decent society. Had Jesus come today having “no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him,” (Isaiah 53:2), how many of us would have gone down to the simple people to see and hear Him.
There are many representatives of Jesus among the simple people today and not only the poor simple people, but also those who grew up in good societies, but chose not to become like their society. These people have the Living Word of the Lord in their hearts, affect many people along their way and make a difference wherever they go. Do we acknowledge their gift to bring change in our own lives and encourage such service, or do we criticise and persecute them because they are not part of the establishment? Who was it that persecuted Jesus, the apostles and the first church? Wasn’t it the local religious establishment, the church of the time?
Who do we actually worship? I hear so often about this and that great preacher or revivalist. ‘Men of God’ in history are often remembered and honoured, but who are the ones that would be honoured in heaven one day. Wouldn’t it be those who were like Jesus – those who quietly did what the Lord expected of them among the people of need – the ‘children’ of society (Matthew 18:3)?
In today’s society we love to entertain and be entertained, we love to go to church where we would get a shiver down the spine and have a wonderful time in the presence of the Lord. We love to sit in front of the television set and listen to great messages of great preachers - men and women of stature in Christian society. All the while, though, people around us suffer in their material, spiritual and emotional poverty. Jesus told in the parable of the great banquet in Luke 14:15-24 of all the esteemed people refusing to come to the banquet. In verse 21 we read: “Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’”
Are we Jesus to the physically poor, crippled, blind and lame? Maybe we have not many of them near us. How about the spiritually poor and blind and the emotionally crippled and lame? Are we Jesus to these people, for if He came today, that’s where we would find Him? Does He find us there?
Lord, I wish to be where you want me to be. Help me to deny my comforts and obey you.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
If you benefited from this, why don’t you link it to your Facebook or Twitter or forward the e-mail reminder to make it available to your friends? You can also use the e-mail link to pass it on. Please pray as well for its distribution to those who need it and feel free to ask questions or discuss thoughts.
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