Who is the Christ that I follow?
- Apr 15, 2017
- 3 min read
The Question:
Every year around the time of Resurrection Sunday I always seem to come back to this question. Who is the Christ that I follow? Is He the Christ sitting on a hill with a lamb by his side? Is He the passive sacrifice that hung from the cross before taking His last breath? Or is He the strict legalist that is modeled in many churches across the world ...full of rules and regulations that dictate our eternal placement?
He is Dynamic and Compassionate
I spoke with my friend Liana yesterday that I haven't seen in almost a year, and we both got goosebumps to find out that we are both "hearing" the same calling.We need to get outside of our church walls, and go to where the people are. When I read about the Christ that I follow He wasn't stuck in a pew waving a fan for the heat. Neither was he overly concerned about the attire of the people around Him. During our conversation what was even more significant is that while we are both being charged similar tasks it looks different for both of us. For Liana answering the call means volunteering at a non-profit organization that services victims of human trafficking as well as another organization that services young women who are face with major decisions as it pertains to pregnancy and how to make it though the results of the choices. As a matter of fact the reason for her visit was to have me fill out a referral form! She is definitely a "Go-Getter!"
On the other hand... in another part the 'vineyard' God has me teaching hundreds of underprivileged children in Baltimore City Public Schools System. Anyone working in under serviced areas knows all about the different spiritual dynamics that come with that. Same calling... different
methods!
In Matthew 9:35-37 the bible records Jesus moving about to different places teaching and healing. It states that He was moved with compassion for the people. I think in this society we often see the destitute and have a moment of pity or sympathy for them... then we drive past them, and continue on our day. However it was the compassion of Christ that moved Him to perform miracles for those who needed it the most. Miracles that healed. Miracles that changed peoples lives for the better. As Christ-ians are we not called to do the same? To make impact in the lives of the people around us? To do more than "Turn and talk to your neighbor" as we sit in these buildings WE call church week after week.
Every year I come back to this answer... " I am whatever I need to be to get the job done." Isn't that crazy amazing! Every time I get this answer I am in awe that it is even possible that He can be all the things that is necessary for this world! I mean peace for the chaos; hope for the hopeless; strength for the weak, and joy for the sorrowful. THAT is the Christ that I follow! So I encourage you this Resurrection Sunday to find a way to make impact in your community. It can be participating in something that your local assembly is doing. It can be volunteering at a non-profit organization. It can be making and distributing 10 blessing bags a week! Whatever your do... do it knowing that life and perspective dramatically changes for those who give!
Prayer: "God please open my eyes to ways I can make impact for YOU in my community. Show me their needs, and ways to meet those needs. Please connect me to others who are on the same mission. Please, Lord, stir my heart so that the weekly habitual attending of my local assembly would no longer be enough for me. Please soften my heart and import your love and compassion that will drive me to become an active member of your Kingdom. Amen."
Happy Resurrection Sunday everyone!
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