One Sabbath, Jesus was at the synagogue and He saw a man with a crippled hand. Who else saw him? Was he sitting in the back or standing behind the crowd? Was he hiding his hand under his cloak? It was the common belief that if someone had something wrong with them it was due to their sin or a family member's sin before them. So, any handicap was a public disgrace and a major embarrassment. Did others see him? Did others shun him? Was he alone? Did he feel alone? We do not know these details. But, what we do know, Jesus saw him. Jesus would not let him stand alone.
Remember, when God said, "Let there be light." What did God do at the end of each day's work of creating? He evaluated His work and said, "It is good." But, on that fifth day after hand making and breathing life into the man, what did God say?
“It is not good for the man to be alone.” Gen 2:18
Loneliness is not good. It is an illness. It is painful. It is extremely damaging. Everyone at some point and at a variety of times throughout their life, feel lonely. Lonely people will do many unhealthy things to solve this universal problem. Do we need to list the over eating, over spending, over social media-ing, secretly diving into their temptations deeper and deeper?
Sometimes, lonely people will even risk and go to a church for some help. But, do the people in that church have eyes to see them? Do they have a heart to see them? Do they have a mind that is intentionally trained to look for them? Are Christians like Jesus and do they naturally see lonely, hurt, wounded people? Did anyone see the man in church that day when Jesus called him to join Him? Did anyone see the inner pain, relational pain, emotional pain and the spiritual separation of this man besides Jesus?
One mantra that seems to bubble out of Jesus' life is...
No One Stands Alone!
Remember, the evil-controlled cemetery dweller? He was alone. As Jesus was in another town doing ministry, He saw this man, possibly a former husband and father. Jesus lived out, No One Stands Alone, by getting in a boat and going across a lake to solve this evil-filled man's problem of being all alone with this uncontrollable evil consuming him. Jesus saw this man while He was not even in that man's presence. Do you already see hurting and lonely people in your mind as you prepare to go to church this Sunday and every Sunday? Are you already praying for whom ever God would bring? Are you praying to have Jesus' eyes to see?
Do I need to say anything about the woman at the well? Jesus saw her alone. He was so committed to solve her loneliness problem, He sent His disciples on an errand.
No One Stands Alone.
Do you see lonely people?
Do you see people in need?
Do you see hurting, wounded people?
Do you have the eyes of Jesus to see what He wants you to see?
As Peter and John walked into the city in Acts 3, most people learned to ignore the pleas of a crippled man. Luke wrote, "Peter looked straight at him, as did John." The original language "looked straight" means to be stretched, to be pulled. It is as if the Holy Spirit pulled Peter's eyes to see this man.
Are you cooperating with the Holy Spirit so that He will pull your eyes to the people He wants you to see, serve and love?
Do you see lonely people?
1 Chron 16:11 "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."
As we daily spend time with Jesus, let Jesus' face to shine on you. Bask in all of His character and let Him transform you to be more like Himself. Then look at His face as He nudges you to look at someone who should not be standing alone.
Do you see them?
No One Stands Alone on our watch,
Pastor Chris
Remember, when God said, "Let there be light." What did God do at the end of each day's work of creating? He evaluated His work and said, "It is good." But, on that fifth day after hand making and breathing life into the man, what did God say?
“It is not good for the man to be alone.” Gen 2:18
Loneliness is not good. It is an illness. It is painful. It is extremely damaging. Everyone at some point and at a variety of times throughout their life, feel lonely. Lonely people will do many unhealthy things to solve this universal problem. Do we need to list the over eating, over spending, over social media-ing, secretly diving into their temptations deeper and deeper?
Sometimes, lonely people will even risk and go to a church for some help. But, do the people in that church have eyes to see them? Do they have a heart to see them? Do they have a mind that is intentionally trained to look for them? Are Christians like Jesus and do they naturally see lonely, hurt, wounded people? Did anyone see the man in church that day when Jesus called him to join Him? Did anyone see the inner pain, relational pain, emotional pain and the spiritual separation of this man besides Jesus?
One mantra that seems to bubble out of Jesus' life is...
No One Stands Alone!
Remember, the evil-controlled cemetery dweller? He was alone. As Jesus was in another town doing ministry, He saw this man, possibly a former husband and father. Jesus lived out, No One Stands Alone, by getting in a boat and going across a lake to solve this evil-filled man's problem of being all alone with this uncontrollable evil consuming him. Jesus saw this man while He was not even in that man's presence. Do you already see hurting and lonely people in your mind as you prepare to go to church this Sunday and every Sunday? Are you already praying for whom ever God would bring? Are you praying to have Jesus' eyes to see?
Do I need to say anything about the woman at the well? Jesus saw her alone. He was so committed to solve her loneliness problem, He sent His disciples on an errand.
No One Stands Alone.
Do you see lonely people?
Do you see people in need?
Do you see hurting, wounded people?
Do you have the eyes of Jesus to see what He wants you to see?
As Peter and John walked into the city in Acts 3, most people learned to ignore the pleas of a crippled man. Luke wrote, "Peter looked straight at him, as did John." The original language "looked straight" means to be stretched, to be pulled. It is as if the Holy Spirit pulled Peter's eyes to see this man.
Are you cooperating with the Holy Spirit so that He will pull your eyes to the people He wants you to see, serve and love?
Do you see lonely people?
1 Chron 16:11 "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."
As we daily spend time with Jesus, let Jesus' face to shine on you. Bask in all of His character and let Him transform you to be more like Himself. Then look at His face as He nudges you to look at someone who should not be standing alone.
Do you see them?
No One Stands Alone on our watch,
Pastor Chris
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