"20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
22 "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!
23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets." Luke 6:20-23 ESV
When you read that, what do you think? I get excited, personally.
You see, when I was a kid I always held a soft spot for the poor, the hungry and the estranged. I have a mommy and daddy that love me, a warm house and tasty food, so why can't they? It perplexed my young mind to no end. Why was I so well provided for when so many others suffered. I fell in love with soup kitchens and food banks and toy drives and homeless shelters and any orphanages I could find simply because they were working to do everything I couldn't.
Then I learned about a man who all the little children loved, the beggars and the lost, and who He loved in return. No I'm not talking about Santa, or Ghandi, but good try. No, no, I'm talking about Jesus Christ.
Jesus. People think of Him as this stoic hardcore individual who, while He was both fully Man and fully God, never laughed or really smiled. He was like Jiminy Cricket meets Tom Brokaw. The good conscience meets boredom. I mean, come on, have we not learned that throughout the bible God had a love that attracted children like no other. In fact, if you look at Matthew 18:3-4 you'll find that not only does God attract our kids, He wants us to be like them!
"3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:3-4 ESV
Good news for us "big kids" right?
Listen, the point is people these days are missing out on a truly amazing and wonderful relationship. Yes Jesus is humble, yes Jesus is strong and powerful, yes Jesus is God. That being said, Jesus is also loving, kind, tender, passionate and understanding. He is, was and will be.
---------------
I visited a church in California recently called "The Crystal Cathedral". It's made mostly out of glass! I was excited, since I had dreamt of a church just like it, see through so that everyone knew what we were doing, why and where they could join in. This building however, just missed the boat.
It was made of mirrors, with no handles on the door to get in, just to get out.
Reminds me of a verse... "23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like." James 1:23-24 ESV
Their premise behind the whole thing was an encouragement to come and know Jesus, and He was depicted throughout the campus as smiling, laughing and happy to see you. Now, I'm not one for big bronze statues of My Father, and I promise if you asked Him He'd agree that all the money that went to the building of those "idyllic" representations of Him could have been better spent on the poor and the hungry and less on the creation of a temple. I will say, however that at least He was happy and not pulling a "Tom Brokaw".
To their credit the founders of this very building state that it was designed to be a beacon to all those seeking Him and an understanding of Him. To solidify their prayers that a new generation would rise up and proclaim the good news of Jesus to all the earth. I learned a lot from what My Father had to say while visiting, and I tell you now that generation, is us.
Too long have we sat in our little pews or chairs and sang happy songs and praised amongst each other. Too long have we been comfortable in our own little "Jesus world". Don't get me wrong - I love worship immensely, understanding what it is in comparison to what so many of us do. We seem to struggle with the concept of constant prayer and worship. We rely on a building to hide in and make our songs and worship. We rely on a building to meet in "safety" from the cold dark world. We rely on a building we've come to call "church".
Enough is enough.
Get up. I'm serious. Get up, get out there and tell someone you love them, and when they ask why, you can tell them because He loved us first.
Be a doer of the Word.
"19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:19-27 ESV
Go.
Not my will but Yours be done Father, let us heed Your call.
-- Othniel
