An old girlfriend, not really old, but a long time ago old, gave me a
postcard that read “quit bragging about what a great lover you are, show me!”
Unsaved at the time, that was quite an invitation, but I hung onto it, and later
after meeting Jesus, it took on a new meaning. We are told to be doers not just
sayers of the word, to put feet to our actions, to show the love of Christ
through our lives. I took it very serious, and when driven by the holy spirit,
I got to see a side of Jesus I hadn’t through just reading and studying. But
being a doer can also isolate you, as I was to find out.....
I was at our Thursday evening Bible study, with a group of “like minded
men,” or so they advertised. I had known many of them for years, and this group
of 15-20 was steeped in the word, and tradition. I was always wary of those who
depend on tradition instead of their own experience, and often times got into
trouble asking questions, and questioning the teaching. It was evident that
whatever the pastor said was gospel, I had been raised in Christ differently.
Which I later found was not just germane to this church. We were varied in our
social group, from rich to poor, but we all called ourselves Christians. Some
men were even considered to be “on fire for the Lord,” never quite knew what
meant, or “good strong men in the word.” With one who was constantly correcting
others with his 10 pound Greek to English dictionary. Among ourselves we were
prideful, and like the ad in the bulletin said, “like minded men.” And then one
night, something happened...
A new guy stumbled in, literally, who had been living in his car. Recently
out of jail, he looked disheveled, hungry, and exhausted. We fed him all the
cookies and juice we had, and he sat in with us, telling us how he was a
Christian, but had fallen away. The leader led us in prayer for him, that God
would change him and help him, then he had a request. He needed a place to
sleep, at least for the night and to shower, maybe a meal, could anyone help?
And like good, like minded men, they all got silent. An eerie uncomfortable
silence. So I spoke up, “he’s going home with me.” Seems I wasn’t so like
minded, thankfully not like hearted as the others. I got a chance to show what
a great lover Christ is, not just talk about it. After taking him home, and
introducing him to Theresa, I could not get hold of her, so this was a surprise,
he stayed with us a few nights, sleeping 14 straight hours after eating a meal
and showering. Looking back I saw Jesus, they just saw a man down on his luck,
a homeless guy who invaded their meeting. I saw the least of them, not the man
I took home, but the like minded ones that called themselves Christian. I left
that church after that, and still get their emails for like minded men to get
together, just so you are like them. Now I know better, sadly they do
too.
How many claim to know Jesus but leave him at the front door? Claim or
brag to be like minded in a church so they fit in, meeting the standards set by
the church, but falling short of Jesus? Did you ever consider the fact Jesus
knew and befriended both the rich and poor, and all in between? He wasn’t poor,
but humbled himself, never owning property, having no place to lie his head, had
to borrow clothes, and even was laid in a borrowed tomb? How would he fit into
your fellowship today? But yet he gave up all the riches in heaven for us.
Consider this, that after a prayer and Bible study one day, when the disciples
all left to return to their homes, he retreated to the Mount of Olives, for he
had no home to go to. We often refer to what he said in the Olivet Discourse,
but do we remember where he retreated to after? Maybe these like hearted men of
2000 years ago were no different than today. With one exception, we have the
holy spirit to guide, they didn’t yet. But when they did, what a difference it
would make!
Jesus told us the poor would always be with us, we see homelessness and
those in jail, Jesus saw those who without him the poor. Poor in spirit , he
called them. Have a good FICO score but no Jesus? You are mentioned in the
Bible. Agree with the men and pastors of the church, but have no time for
those in need? You are really blind to your biggest need, the love of Christ.
We are saved individually, we are also judged individually by God. Falling back
on the excuse of being like minded will not cut it on judgment day. When Jesus
asked “when did you see me,” what will your answer be? Are you so busy looking
forward to him you are not seeing him now? His answer is simple, and just for
us. “Whenever you see someone in need, you see me. And whoever does for the
least of them, does for unto me.” For me it was one night providing food and
shelter to a stranger. Breaking away from the religion of like mindedness, and
stepping out with the spirit. He became poor so we could become rich. What do
you withhold from him? A pastor may mention your tithes, does God need your
money or does the church? What are you withholding from God while being like
minded? Are you content to be part of the group, or walk with Jesus? That
night when the collection plate came around, I put in part of myself instead of
money. You judge who got the biggest reward for their giving. What are you
withholding from God today? In him we have all we need, sometimes he needs us
to be the messenger or vessel. Are you like minded with men or Jesus? Your
words may say one thing, your actions another. It is a terrible thing to live
without the Lord. There may be security in meeting with like minded men, I
rather place my trust in Jesus. If that makes me an outsider, I take it as a
compliment. I prefer to be one in the spirit, can I find anyone who will agree
with me?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com