August 19, 2015
When Did We See
I’m being inundated in the
mail and email from political hacks who want to fight Hillary Clinton. Their
request is not for me to get personally invested by writing letters or making calls
to Congress, but rather for me to dig into my pocketbook and make donations that
will pay for producing videos, buying air time and paying lobbyists. The church
is not immune to such a tactics and thought processes. On the religious
landscape many believers find it easier to support another person’s vision rather
than open their own eyes to the kingdom. We want organizations to feed the hungry, give
someone a drink and extend an invitation. Jesus said, “Then the righteous will
answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give
you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and
invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did
we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you” (Matt 25:37-39
NIV)?
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1 comment:
Gail;
-----You make a good point. Matthew 25:37-39, if written specifically for today, would probably read like, “Then the favorite charities of the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did our social workers see you hungry and send you to the food bank, or thirsty and give you a coupon for a soda? When did they see you a stranger and rent you a motel room, or needing clothes and point you to Sally‘s? When did they see you sick or in prison and send you to a doctor of invite you to the prison ministry?'” (Not in the Bible) For all the good done by collecting effort into the hands of dedicated and trained people, it also obscures the personal relationships which helping needs to feed.
-----If you view this scripture (as Matthew wrote it) from the perspective of personal relationship, its amazing truth comes alive.
O LORD, Thou hast searched me and known me!
Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up;
Thou discernest my thoughts from afar.
Thou searchest out my path and my lying down,
and art acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether…
…Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit?
Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?
(Ps 139:1-7)
The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD,
searching all his innermost parts.
(Prov 20:27)
…for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every
plan and thought.
(I Chron 28:9)
-----In other words, if you experience it, then the Lord experiences it. If anyone experiences anything, then the Lord experiences all that, too. Of course, not in the same way, but even much deeper. This means the Lord experiences what you cause others to experience (oh no!) Well, ok. We do a little bit of good to each other. And He experiences that, too (whew!) If you do it to somebody, you’ve done it to Him, because He knows every thought of somebody, as well. Therefore, it behooves us greatly to remember that, as the Lord weighs your heart, He is not just weighing the thoughts and feelings in it, He is also weighing the impacts you made upon multitudes of other hearts - the heartbreaks and joys you made in them - because He knows all hearts. You are far more than the accumulation of your experiences. From the Lord's perspective, you are also what you've caused others to experience. Relationship is intense. He is a relational God. If you want to touch Him, touch somebody. Even if you don’t want to touch Him you touch Him, because we can not avoid touching others. So be careful out there.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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