The scene is a massive car accident. There are overturned cars, semis, pickups, and vans as far as the eye can see. There is blood all over the road, from the bodies strewn about in grotesque fashion. The scene is horrendous and gut-wrenching. The EMT’s, paramedics, and other first-responders show up. This is as horrific as they’ve ever seen. Never have they ever, seen so much blood, dismemberment, and chaos.
Out of disgust with what they see, and feeling overwhelmed by how much gore is laid out before them, they radio in to their boss and ask, “Since it’s is just so bad out here, and this is just hopeless and overwhelming, can we come in?” can we just come back and stay at the station? You just don’t understand how bad it is out here. It is so, so bad.” Their boss radios back, “But, this is why I sent you. I sent you to bring healing to them. I sent you to bandage their wounds. I sent you to help them and have compassion on them. I sent you to save them.” (paraphrase of an analogy by Steve Pixler)
We are looking around this world saying the same thing those first responders were saying. Trying to convince Jesus how bad it is, and that He should just take us home. Assuming, I guess, that He doesn’t already know about the iniquity that is running rampant in the world. As if Jesus doesn’t know about the sin, and carnality running buck-wild in His church.
Jesus isn’t hearing any of those pleas to be relieved of duty. Instead, He is saying, “I know it’s bad, that is why I sent you! Heal them. Save them. Make them whole.”
This world needs people who bring healing. Not more hurt in the disguise of help, but real healers. (Matthew 10:7-8, Luke 4:18) Instead of begging Jesus to take us home, why don’t we do what He sent us here to do?
The church has become more like a teenage drama queen, than a wise mother. It doesn’t matter how beat up and bruised a child gets, that mother is going to take that child in her lap and love, clean up, and heal that baby. Whenever my baby, Kylie, gets hurt, Amber is always right there, scooping her up. She loves her and tells her everything is going to be ok. She puts ointment on her knee and kisses her tears away. She doesn’t say, “Ew get away from you. You have blood, and snot, and slobber, and boogers, and left over food all over you. You are disgusting, like so gross.”
The very fact that we look at people and go, “Ew gross, how could they____” shows a lack of maturity. Our hearts should be moved with love and compassion for everyone, not just people who look ‘weird’ or act “weird.”
And, why aren’t we? Why? Have you really asked yourself why? What is it going on inside of us that is causing us to be apathetic? Why are we unmoved?
I’m not talking about “soul-winning,” but about loving people. Jesus said, what you have done to the least of these, you have done it to me (Matthew 25:40). It doesn’t matter how we treat those who aren’t the “least of these,” if we treat anyone like they aren’t Jesus. How we treat others, it really does matter. This is as hard for me as it is for anyone. I often treat people like I just don’t have time for them, or get irritated at something they do, or whatever. This is something I want to be on the forefront of my mind. We have to be intentional about getting rid of the things in us that cause us to act contrary to love and amplify the areas that love can flow through.
To paraphrase Mark Morgan, “Everything must flow in, through, and out of love, or it will turn on you and destroy you.”
If this has helped at all, please like, share, and leave a comment.
It’s ok to be happy and healthy.
jareddoran 