i have been reading. i have been thinking. i have been praying, learning, and continuing to work out my salvation. i have been looking. i have been acting. i have been seeing.
sounds like i have been busy doesn't it? truth is, i have been seeing God work in my life and around me. and that is awesome! well God is awesome, so hence all the awesomeness!
but while i have been experiencing God, He has also been speaking to my heart and helping to realize something about myself and possibly others like me (Christ-followers!) - have i been neglecting the "untouchables"? have i been unwilling to reach out to those who i, and society, have deemed "unreachable"?
i have been reading the Bible in alphabetical order. just to mix things up. currently in Matthew, and i read this passage. now, the footnotes inform us that the man may not have necessarily had leprosy but something like it. either way, i have heard it said and read it many times - but Jesus reaches out to touch the man. he could have just said "be healed', but he reaches out and physically touches the man. something NO ONE else would do. by all accounts, this man was more than likely ostracized, as those who were affected by such diseases were, and everyone avoided them - so he would be considered a social outcast.
but let's go back to the tidbit of info that Jesus TOUCHED him! this little phrase hit me square in the face. i wonder if the disciples backed away when the man came up? i wonder if they were talking among themselves on what Jesus was getting ready to do and how "you just don't do that Jesus!"? then i began to wonder - who needs to be "touched" by Jesus but miss out on that touch because i and society have deemed them untouchable, unworthy of the gospel message?
its true isn't it, that we keep Jesus from others b/c we don't think they are worthy of him due to the way they look, act, smell, belong to the wrong social class, wear skinny jeans, say random things, etc. Lord, forgive me for being selective when it comes to sharing Christ with others! and the worst part is - well its not so much worse, but i kept reading and then this phrase shot out at me: "Freely you have received, freely give." Matt. 10:8b niv
[jaw drops]
forgive me Lord for thinking i knew better than You as to who is worthy to hear about your Son and the gospel message!
Jesus was always being accused of being a friend to sinners, but he reminded us that he came "to seek and to save what was lost". (Luke 19:10 niv) people who were considered lowest of the low, unworthy, evil, corrupt in the eyes of the religious leaders, were the ones to whom Jesus was revealing himself! Jesus showed us that no one is beneath hearing about His love for them! and yet, sad to say, i have withheld the Good News because i thought i knew better and thought i knew who deserved to hear the gospel message.
truth is - everyone needs to hear. even those i work with who might be a little different. because they are searching for the Lord and i know where they can find Him.
Forgive me Father for failing to reach out to those around me with Your love and the gospel message because i deemed your creation untouchable just because they were a bit different.
sounds like i have been busy doesn't it? truth is, i have been seeing God work in my life and around me. and that is awesome! well God is awesome, so hence all the awesomeness!
but while i have been experiencing God, He has also been speaking to my heart and helping to realize something about myself and possibly others like me (Christ-followers!) - have i been neglecting the "untouchables"? have i been unwilling to reach out to those who i, and society, have deemed "unreachable"?
i have been reading the Bible in alphabetical order. just to mix things up. currently in Matthew, and i read this passage. now, the footnotes inform us that the man may not have necessarily had leprosy but something like it. either way, i have heard it said and read it many times - but Jesus reaches out to touch the man. he could have just said "be healed', but he reaches out and physically touches the man. something NO ONE else would do. by all accounts, this man was more than likely ostracized, as those who were affected by such diseases were, and everyone avoided them - so he would be considered a social outcast.
but let's go back to the tidbit of info that Jesus TOUCHED him! this little phrase hit me square in the face. i wonder if the disciples backed away when the man came up? i wonder if they were talking among themselves on what Jesus was getting ready to do and how "you just don't do that Jesus!"? then i began to wonder - who needs to be "touched" by Jesus but miss out on that touch because i and society have deemed them untouchable, unworthy of the gospel message?
its true isn't it, that we keep Jesus from others b/c we don't think they are worthy of him due to the way they look, act, smell, belong to the wrong social class, wear skinny jeans, say random things, etc. Lord, forgive me for being selective when it comes to sharing Christ with others! and the worst part is - well its not so much worse, but i kept reading and then this phrase shot out at me: "Freely you have received, freely give." Matt. 10:8b niv
[jaw drops]
forgive me Lord for thinking i knew better than You as to who is worthy to hear about your Son and the gospel message!
Jesus was always being accused of being a friend to sinners, but he reminded us that he came "to seek and to save what was lost". (Luke 19:10 niv) people who were considered lowest of the low, unworthy, evil, corrupt in the eyes of the religious leaders, were the ones to whom Jesus was revealing himself! Jesus showed us that no one is beneath hearing about His love for them! and yet, sad to say, i have withheld the Good News because i thought i knew better and thought i knew who deserved to hear the gospel message.
truth is - everyone needs to hear. even those i work with who might be a little different. because they are searching for the Lord and i know where they can find Him.
Forgive me Father for failing to reach out to those around me with Your love and the gospel message because i deemed your creation untouchable just because they were a bit different.
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