Looking for Jesus in the World
by Joseph Parker
When we open our eyes first thing in the morning we should say to ourselves, "where can I find Jesus today." We need to be looking for him in everything that we do. The fact that he gave us another day to live and draw breath should be evidence of the fact that he is in this world. His mercy and grace overshadow us as we travel upon this journey that we call life. That mercy and grace should be the very reason that we continually look for him in all things that we do everyday.
When you see the homeless man on the corner do you pity him and say, "Oh that poor man I feel sorry for him." When you hear about the children on the news who have been abused and taken advantage of do you just say, "I need to pray for them." When you hear about the tragedies of a natural disaster and all the people affected by it do you just say, "oh my terrible tragedy?" These are just empty words without true compassion, for true compassion will move us beyond just words. We must let the words of Jesus stir up our hearts and move us beyond speaking idle words. Let his words, his love for you, stir within your heart so that you may rise up and put his love into action.
It is good to be moved, but are you genuinely moved with compassion? We need to remember our Lord's compassion that he had while walking this earth. He touched lives and made a difference for good in this world, so too let us do the same. Let us hear the words that he has spoken to us, saying, "occupy till I come" (Luke 19:12-14.) Jesus told us to keep working and doing good until he returns. Therefore you need to open your eyes to the afflicted, the poor, the widowed, the hurting and the helpless. These are people that he ministered to, the lives that he touched, and the lives that he changed when he encountered them. Since we are his hands on this earth we need to reach out and touch their lives.
Do you look for Jesus in this world or are you merely content with your earthly treasures meandering through life, or do you truly look for him in all that you do? It is true that God blesses his children; however he did not bless us just to do so. He has given us abundantly so that we can help those in this world who are in need. Remember what Jesus said by feeding the hungry, giving a drink to the thirsty, showing hospitality to the stranger, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and those who are in prison it is as if we were doing those things for him (Matthew 25:32-40.) Therefore we need to reach out putting his love into action and help those we encounter who are in need of a healing touch from the master's hand.
Looking for Jesus in the world should be the anthem that our hearts sing everyday. It should cause us to rise up from our complacent state that we find ourselves in. Don't you think that it is time to reach out and touch that person whom God has laid upon your heart? Do something to help that homeless person standing on the corner begging for bread, don't just walk by and speak empty words to yourself. Reach out and touch that person who is thirsty, reach out and touch that person who needs to know that they are still loved. Go and visit the widows, the fatherless children, those who are in prison and visit the sick in the hospital. Bring Jesus to them and show the true compassion that our Lord commanded us to.
Let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart and do what he is calling you to do. No more idle words, no more feeling pity, no more vain lies to make yourself feel better. It is time for compassion to move our hearts, to spur us to act and not just speak. Look around the world that you live in each and everyday, look for Jesus and ways that you might minister his love and compassion towards your fellow man. Let's look for ways to be kind hearted and helpful, to do what Jesus would have done if he was still walking here on this earth. Let us be his hands reaching out to the unloved and the hurting heart, we have the ability and the means to touch their hearts.
At the end of a long hard day of work can you come home and reflect upon what you did to minister Jesus to a lost and dying world. Did you touch that person who you saw standing on the corner, did you speak kind words to strangers, did you show true compassion to those you work with. Hopefully you can say to yourself, "yes I did make a difference today in my world." Maybe you didn't make a difference; maybe you just walked away content in your heart with what you have and did not share it with anybody?
The good news is as long as you draw breathe on this earth the Lord gives you another chance tomorrow, but don't just walk by that person you know in your heart needs your help. Don't just keep what treasures that God has given to you, but rather use that treasure he has given you to help someone today. Remember that our Lord is watching us and wants us to do what is right by the people we encounter everyday. Look for Jesus this day in the world that you live in and watch how helping someone else carries their burdens, will ease your own. Look for that opportunity to be kind, look for Jesus.