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 you be? As you read this study consider your own geographical area, circle of influence, circumstances etc. and try doing some self-examination.
When Jesus came to Judah, today’s Israel, He was non-existing for the people until He was thirty years of age. Because He was the good kid of the neighbourhood, He probably would have drawn some attention, for He would have been the target of the bullies and the envy of His brothers and sisters. Knowing who He actually was, His mother and father, being extremely godly people, would have kept things until control with wisdom from God.
When He, however, began to minister after having been baptised by John, He met with various kinds of people, just as we find today. He had the simple people adoring Him, the hurting people hanging onto His words, important people visiting Him openly and recognising His authority as well as visiting Him secretly, embarrassed to be seen with Him and then the religious educated snobs – the Pharisees and their mates. He also had prostitutes, foreigners, criminals, the curious ones and last but most importantly those He had chosen – His disciples.
Had Jesus come today, in which crowd would we find ourselves? This is now a time to look deep into your being and discover your heart. “Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts,” (Psalm 139:23 Amplified Bible)!
Maybe you would find yourself looking at this stranger doing these miracles and think; ‘Bet you he’s a con artist’. There have been men and women about doing these kinds of works and miracles in Jesus name. How have you reacted to their testimony? How do you react if someone testifies to you about a miracle that happened? Jesus certainly had His sceptics too.
Maybe, when you see Jesus loving the beggars, con-men, druggies, drug dealers, prostitutes, etc. you may have thought like Simon the Pharisee did: “When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner,’” (Luke 7:39). How often do we look the other way when a beggar asks for something, look down on obvious sinners such as prostitutes, thieves, drug dealers and drug abusers, whilst in our own hearts we do equal sins such as murdering our neighbour with our thoughts and tongues through gossip and criticism, stealing our neighbour’s goods through envying their lifestyle, sending people to hell by not obeying the Lord when He creates an opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus’ love, or simply thinking higher of ourselves than we ought to?
Jesus knew why these people were like this. He declared it in some of His last words on the cross: “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,’” (Luke 23:34). No sinner knows what they’re doing, unless they’re told. The law was brought in to help the Israelites knowing right from wrong. Christ came to put the law in our hearts and to convict sinners inwardly: “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment,” (John 16:8). Christians have no excuse though, since we know right and wrong, or at least we should. If you don’t understand these things, you may be a Christian by name, but were never born again or Spirit filled. All those who are born again are called to work under guidance of the Holy Spirit to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation,” (Mark 16:15).
Where would you find yourself? In our next message we’ll have some more tests.
Lord, thank you for revealing my heart to me.
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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