Random Thought:
“Wouldn’t the world be better off if THE MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST, actually lived
AMONG us?” It’s something to really think about, isn’t it? Well, prayerfully
consider the following story.
There was an ancient
stone monastery tucked away in the middle of a picturesque forest. For
many years people would make the significant detour required to seek and see
this monastery. The peaceful spirit of the place was 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 present 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 abandoned 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
offence had been given.
Travelers once more
found their way to the monastery as the word soon spread about the remarkable
spirit of that place. And when people sojourned to the monastery, they
left spiritually 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! The 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 the tendency to develop SPIRITUAL AMNESIA, i.e. to forget that
HE is constantly near and aware. In fact, far too many ‘believers’ are
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 our next-door neighbor. Indeed,
JESUS LIVES WITH US…and…JESUS LIVES IN US! So, from now on, let
everything that we do and say reflect His presence because THE MESSIAH LIVES
AMONG US!
Sisters and brothers,
be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO
MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
No comments:
Post a Comment