Our God is the God of second chances... He is a God full of grace, mercy, forgiveness and love. Throughout the Bible we can see examples of this through Jesus' ministry. If we call ourselves "Christians" (which by definition means to be Christ-like) we are called to do the same.How did Jesus do it? When I think about it, I am amazed. God came down out of Heaven in the form of man to meet us right where we were at. He left His "comfort zone" to be amongst lowly us. Why? Because He loves us. When Jesus was here, He went where no one would have chosen to go - amongst the lepers, amongst the tax collectors, the prostitutes - the lowest of low. How many of us would have wrinkled up our noses, lifted up our chins in pride and disgust, not realizing or willing to see that we are just as low in whatever our own sins have been as those that Jesus decided to be amongst.
How can someone see the love of Christ if no one is willing to venture out? If everyone decides to stay in "their place of comfort." Jesus left His place of comfort for YOU shouldn't you be willing to do the same, should God bring an individual in your life who shares experiences that shock you, shakes you and makes you feel uncomfortable? Maybe God wants you to be uncomfortable so that you can remember that the Bible says:
"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
What changes and transforms all of us who are open to it, is the love of Christ . If someone did not come forward and tell you about Him, you would not have come into the knowledge of Christ and what He did for you. We are all called to be missionaries in whatever part of the world God has us situated. We are missionaries in our own daily lives. We must keep in mind that perhaps the only "Christ" people will see is what they see in you. They should see love, mercy, forgiveness, humility and a non-judgmental spirit. We need to learn to leave all the judging to God. He is the one who looks at the heart. It's okay to struggle with the stories that you may hear of things that have occurred in someone's life. But its not okay to sit upon a royal, pompous seat of judgment and judge that person because their lives have differed so vastly from your own.
There is a story that Jesus tells (and one that I have blogged about and you can find in my post listings posted in January, 2015 entitled, "A Modern but Very Old Tale") that speaks of this, about a woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus said to those who were surrounding her, preparing to stone her:
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)
Are you without sin? Look at your life. I think not. You may not admit it to anyone else - but at least admit it to yourself. Take a good hard look at your own life and think about what you need to change. Stop worrying about what someone else does. If you are worried about someone else - PRAY FOR THEM.
There are some hurting people out there, in THIS day, in THIS age and what they need is not our condemnation and judgment - but our love. Let me rephrase that - Christ's love through us. That is the only thing that makes a difference in ANYONE'S life. Jesus said:
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
He is the God who forgives, the God who shows love, the God who shows mercy, the God who transforms, and He is in the business of using people. He came down in the form of a person (Jesus) to meet us where we were at. He command the disciples:
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20).
"Thank you Lord, for leaving your place of comfort for ME. Thank You for giving up Your life for mine. Help me to follow Your lead and show others Your love so that You may reach them through me so that they may know that there is hope. That you can heal, that you can change, that you forgive, that You renew that You transform. That the Bible is filled with examples of those You chose to use to glorify Your name who felt they were "unusable." It was David the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a shepherd boy yet you chose him to defeat Goliath. Thank You Lord in seeing worth in me. Help me to view others as You view them and help me to be Your vessel so that I can show them how You view them as well. Give me a loving and merciful heart in Jesus' name I pray. Amen"
God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:28-31)
When you allow God to direct you where He wants you to be, and use you to interact with others - He is glorified. When you allow yourself to get "out" of your comfort zone - God is able to work through you more affectively because you are getting out of the way and He can enter in. Next time you start feeling uncomfortable, think upon these words, because there is no greater feeling than knowing that God did a work through you and because of your faithfulness, brought someone to salvation using you as His vessel.
"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." (Luke 15:7)
And ALL of Heaven rejoices.
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