IF CHRIST WAS AMONG US
Random Thought: “Wouldn’t the world be much better off if
JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH, actually lived AMONG us?” It’s something to
really think about, isn’t it? So prayerfully consider the following
story.
There was once an old stone monastery tucked away in the
middle of a picturesque forest. For many years people would make the
significant detour required to seek out and experience this splendid monastery.
The peaceful spirit of that place was emotional healing for the troubled
soul.
However, over the passage of time, fewer and fewer people
made their way to the monastery. Why? The monks had grown jealous
and petty in their relationships with one another, and their animosity was soon
sensed by all who visited.
The Abbot of the monastery was extremely distressed by what
was happening, and he poured out his heart to his good friend, Jeremiah.
Jeremiah was a wise old Jewish rabbi. Having heard the Abbot’s tale
of woe, he asked if he could offer a suggestion. “Please do,” responded
the Abbot. “Anything you can offer.”
Jeremiah said he had received a vision, a very important
vision, and the vision was this: The MESSIAH was alive and living among the
ranks of the monks. The Abbot was flabbergasted. One among his own
was the Messiah! Who could it be? He knew it wasn’t himself, but
who? He raced back to the monastery and shared this exciting news with
his fellow monks.
The monks grew silent as they looked into each other’s
faces. Was this one, or that one, the MESSIAH?
From that day on, the atmosphere in the monastery changed
radically. Joseph and Ivan started talking again, neither wanting to be
guilty of slighting the Messiah. Pierre and Thomas left behind their
frosty attitudes and sought each other’s forgiveness. The monks began
serving each other, proactively looking for opportunities to assist, always seeking
healing and forgiveness where any offense had been given.
As travelers again found their way to the monastery, the
word rapidly spread about the remarkable spirit of that place. People
once again sojourned to the monastery and afterwards found themselves renewed
and transformed. All of this came about because those monks KNEW that
MESSIAH was among them.
At the outset of this devotional, I asked a ‘loaded’
question: “Wouldn’t the world be better off ‘IF’ THE MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST,
actually lived AMONG us?” The answer is quite simple: CHRIST DOES LIVE
AMONG US! Our Living Lord was revealed (two millennia past) as “EMMANUEL,
which being interpreted is “GOD WITH US.” (Matthew 1:23) Thereafter, He
promised never to leave or forsake us. (I Samuel 12:22 – John 14:18 – Matthew
28:20)
Consider this. Some have an unhealthy tendency to
develop SPIRITUAL AMNESIA,
i.e. to forget that CHRIST is always near and absolutely aware. In fact,
far too many ‘believers’ have become PRACTICAL ATHEISTS, which means we PROFESS
that there is a God, but we LIVE as if there is no God. It’s time for a
change. Let’s start living as if JESUS CHRIST is our next-door
neighbor. Wouldn’t that transform our attitudes, habits, decisions and
lifestyles? I’m confident that it would. But guess what?
Jesus is NOT merely a next-door neighbor. JESUS LIVES…WITH US…and…IN
US! So, from now on, let everything that we do and say reflect His
presence and His power. THE MESSIAH
LIVES AMONG US!
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