“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free… Luke 4:18
“If the gospel isn’t good news for everybody, then it isn’t good news for anybody…” Rob Bell
Our pastor gave his sermon Sunday about Jesus “going to the margins”. What he meant was that Jesus always sought out those whom the current culture or ruling elites had put on those margins of society. Jesus came to proclaim God’s love and freedom for those whom the culture had forgotten or indeed, had even punished.
When that Spirit of the Lord rests upon the followers of Jesus, they are compelled to do the same- reach out to those whom the culture has marginalized. When Jesus related the story of the “Good Samaritan” he told the listeners, “Go and do likewise”. Our response to Jesus must be to do the same things he did.
I get a little concerned about the use and misuse of the term “personal salvation.” Indeed, Jesus came to give his life for us and to bring each of us into reconciliation with the Father, but too often, I think salvation becomes “only personal”. It can allow people to claim their own standing with God, and then feel like they are finished. We are to be followers of the way that Jesus taught, and not just “name droppers.”
If we are to be people of “the way of Jesus”, we need to act like him, and not just name him. The Christmas season is a wonderful opportunity to reach people who are on those margins. We can give of our finances and our time to help find people who may not know of the reason for the season. Then we can start to love them into the Kingdom that Jesus invited all to attend.
Prayer: Lord, what a beautiful opportunity we have to show your love to others in this season, Amen
Reflections of a Counselor 