Presence, Proclamation, and Pain

Mark 15:39 "And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, 'Surely, this man was the Son of God.'"

Our presence among the lost, our words about divine realities, and our experience with pain and crises are evidence to a watching world about the reality of Jesus.

Our presence among the lost and hurting reveals our love for God.  Our presence among the lost reveals our understanding of the desperateness of their situation.  Our presence among the lost reminds us we too were once on the other side of eternity with Him.

Our proclamation about Jesus and God's plans direct our conversation from goodness to godliness.  Our words determine the content of our message - salvation is beyond good citizenship and acceptable behavior.  Our message is not about economics, politics, or even church attendance.  Our message is about the cross and Christ.

Pain and crises are the third and maybe clearest indicator of our relationship to God.  From simple pain to deeper misunderstandings, these sharp instruments  reveal our character.  Through faith, they draw us closer to God.  Without faith, they repel us from God.

The centurion watched Jesus for less than half a day.  The only scripture he heard was the beginning of Psalm 22.  But, he saw the other two criminals.  And he watched how all three handled their pain.  Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, he realized only God's Son could have handled such a time like Jesus did.

So what?

1)  All of us are like the foreign centurion.  At one time, we were looking at spiritual matters from a distance. But, then the Savior came to our world.  We came face to face with another reality.  The experience was too much and we spoke the truth about Jesus, 'He is the Son of God.'  Express your gratefulness for his proclamation, presence, and pain, which transformed your life.  

2) How close are you to hurting, lost, and foreigners to God's kingdom.  Can they see your life, hear your proclamation, and ponder your pain?  Go closer today.  Proximity to the lost tenders our hearts, softens our cynicism, and deepens our passion for His kingdom.  

3)  Encourage someone today you know who is working among the lost, hurting, and foreigners to His kingdom.  Write the e-mail, make the phone call, or send the gift package.  Encourage the few and faithful workers to continue speaking His message, sharing their story, and  seeking the 'not-yet found'.  

Thank you for listening.

From Brno,

Boyd H.