What or where is the power to change the lives of men? Indeed, if the life of a man changed would I notice?
42Then he [the dying thief] said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom"
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
At this moment the crucified thief's life was changed forever. He still died a criminals agonising death. Did Jesus save him from his suffering? No! Did Jesus reunite him with his family and friends? No!
When I come across desperate, suffering and hopeless humanity what or who's salvation am I trying to bring? Mine..?... to see them lifted from poverty, housed, well fed and in full employment? or God's... to see their souls reconciled with with their creator and spending the rest of their lives with Jesus.
Where is the power to lead souls to this perfect salvation?
Where is the power to lead souls to this perfect salvation?
1 comment:
Graham, you "hit the nail on the head." Salvation should be our primary (dare I say only?) goal. To bring someone up from poverty, we have to ask why that person is in poverty, and then resolve that root issue. I am reminded of John 9:1-3
1) As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2) His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3) "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."
Just as only God can heal a blind man, only God can truly lift someone from poverty. We must feed, clothe, and shelter the "less fortunate," but only the power of God can change a man's circumstances. Psalm 50:10 says God owns it all (the cattle on a thousand hills, everything). These verses say he controls it all, even determining where a man should live: 1 chronicles 29:11-12, Psalm 135:6, Proverbs 21:1, Isaiah 40:21-24, Acts 17:26.
Really, who is the man in "poverty?" The one sitting in his filth on the street or the or the one with a filthy heart sitting in his penthouse suite? Which has a mansion over the hilltop? In our earthly dwelling, we desire both, the penthouse suite and a pure heart, but... Proverbs 30:7-9, "...give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread..."
God bless you Graham. Keep spreading the word!
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