Coffee With The Lord

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE WHEN YOU SEE A LARGE CROWD OF PEOPLE?

Are you overwhelmed by the size of the crowd? Maybe you’re intimidated… or perhaps you’re even relieved (you’d prefer to just be “lost in the crowd” – unnoticed, if you please)… or you might eye the crowd with a critical eye – just a gullible mob! … Or perhaps you’re the kind of person that would like to make a difference in people’s lives – but there are just so many needs… You feel overwhelmed!

Here is what the Bible says happened to Jesus (Matthew 9:35-38)… “Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and affliction… WHEN HE SAW THE CROWDS, HE HAD COMPASSION FOR THEM, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd…

I read these words in my Bible this morning and I’ve got to tell you, I want my response when I see the crowds of people today to be like the response of Jesus! … COMPASSION!!!

But I have to admit I’m only one person… I can make a difference in my sphere of influence, but I can’t reach out and help everyone! I can help a few one-on-one, or a small group – even on occasion a larger group… but a MULTITUDE?

That’s why Jesus went on to say to His disciples (His followers), I believe, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest!”

Jesus made a powerful, positive, redemptive impact when He was on earth! He brought an expression of “the Kingdom of God/the Kingdom of Heaven” to earth! We, His followers, are His representatives in our culture, our communities, our “crowds” – We’re “The Body of Christ!” (1 Corinthians 12:27-30; Ephesians 4:11-16; John 20:21-22) “We are commissioned to be His hands, His feet, His voice, and His healing presence in our communities and around the world. Our task is to represent Him, His message, and His ministry without distortion in the power of the Holy Spirit!” (My personal definition of “the Church”)

Oh Lord… WHEN WE SEE THE CROWDS, give us “compassion” and help us – enable us, and empower us! And send forth other laborers to assist in Your divine harvest!

Matthew 9:9-13… You should read it!

The mission of Jesus stands in stark contrast to the expectations of many religious people!

And nothing has changed! Jesus saw a hated tax collector and called him saying “Follow me!” … An invitation (almost a “summons”) to discipleship!

He offered “redemptive fellowship” to “tax collectors and sinners” and was criticized for it… His mission that He clearly articulated? …”I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance!”

And nothing has changed… that is still His desire and mission (and we are called to perpetuate and further it!”

Romans 12:9-21: My last reading in January, the month of “resolutions,” using the “Necessary Food Bible Reading Plan” I authored…

On this last day of January – the month of “New Years resolutions” – many of which, I’m sorry to say, have probably been discarded or fallen into disuse… (Hopefully some of them have survived with determined discipline!)

So this morning, during my time of “Coffee with the Lord,” I read a passage that was a little like reading through someone’s “New Years resolutions” on January 1! In my Bible it was given this title: “Behave Like a Christian!” Is consists of a varied and valuable list of behaviors that, if followed, would make an incredible impact on our world in the name of Christ and the Gospel! Be sure and read it (and my advice is that you read it slow and reflectively – let each item “sink in” deeply)…

So, after reading it, I’m overwhelmed! Just overwhelmed!! I wrote this in the margin of my Bible today… “Where to begin? I fall so far short! I could camp out for a month here! No… for a year!! Oh Lord help me – assist me – enable me! Remind me! Transform me! I want to live like this every day! I long to be this kind of Christian… NOT OVERCOME BY EVIL AROUND ME, BUT OVERCOMING EVIL WITH GOOD!! That’s my prayer on January 31!