Wanna see Jesus?

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You’ve probably heard the saying, “you might be the only Jesus others will see.” And I believe that is a true statement. Yes, as we function in our God given roles and extend His love to others we will represent Jesus to a world that needs Him.

But what about you. When was the last time you looked into the eyes of Jesus? Seriously, think about it. Maybe you would say that this morning you spent time in His Word or perhaps you engaged in a conversation with Him. But I’m talking about looking into His eyes. Prayer and reading the Bible is listening and speaking, but what about looking.

As I’ve been reading a book called, the Externall Focused Church I am remind of some verses found in the Gospel of Matthew. Listen to this, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

His followers were confused and responded by asking, “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?”

The Jesus replies, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” It is not those we go to minister to who meet Jesus in a ministry encounter; it is the ones who are doing the ministering. We’re not Jesus to them. They are Jesus to us!

Mother Theresa described her ministry strategy as going out and looking for the dying, the cripple, the lonely, the unwanted, the unloved–”Jesus in disguise.”

Wow! That’s got to make you think. I know it is rocking me. I thought I was the one “taking” Jesus to the world when in reality I am simply the one serving the world and discovering Jesus in the process. Isn’t it interesting the you don’t look into the eyes of Jesus when you are doing ultra-spiritual things like praying, meditating, fasting, reading your Bible, but when you take on the form of a servant you then find yourself peering into the eyes of eternity. The eyes of your Savior.

Maybe you feel distant from Jesus right now and you have been searching for Him. Isn’t it amazing to think that Jesus is simply an act of service away. It was Jesus who said, “even I the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many.” I find it interesting that to see Jesus we simply have to live as He did and we will soon find Him in the most unlikely of places.

Here’s a few random quotes from The Externally Focused Church:

1. Most ministry opportunities that God puts in front of us happen at intersection of the unexpected and the interruption. Think of the Good Samaritan.
2. It takes between twelve and twenty positive bumps [refreshing encounters with the church] before people come to Christ.
3. SERVICE AND SERVE-US–There’s a big difference.
4. Servants get invited to places into which the mighty can’t force their way.
5. Getting people involved in service is much easier than getting them involved in activities specifically designed to deepen their faith. But they’re also finding that people return from their service opportunities asking, “Can you teach me how to pray, understand the Bible, and share my faith?” (People need to FEEL the need before we try to FEED the need)
6. If people begin to serve, they stick. (how true that is!)
7. We begin to grow when we take responsibility for the growth of another person.
8. 92% of those who serve or do ministry to others say that it has had a positive impact on their spiritual growth.
9. When the U.S. Labor department releases the unemployment figures for the quarter, and that number is above 7 percent, it is viewed as a crisis. When a church releases its 80 percent unemployment figures (reflecting the 20 percent of “active” member), it is seen as normal. What if we were only satisfied if 100 percent of our people were engaged in some type of ministry?
10. “I know this now. Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing yet they give their lives to little or nothing. One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. And then it is gone. But to sacrifice what you are and live without belief, that’s more terrible than dying.”–Joan of Arc

That’s all for now. Now you know what’s rattling my cage.

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