OzThoughts Thursday 27th November 2008

OzThoughts Thursday 27th November 2008

As we think about Jesus demonstrating his compassion to many people , even those of “other peoples” such as the Samaritan woman at the well and the Syro-Phonecian woman, there is a lesson there for us to “go and do likewise”. The Christian church has a very long history of going to “other peoples” reaching back to Jesus and early church missionaries such as St Paul come to mind. The early Salvation Army was most enthusiastic and some of its earliest slogans were “Christ for the world” and “The world for Christ”.

I remember reading years ago that when we consider the story of the Good Samaritan with its challenge to consider “other peoples” as our neighbours, not to forget our neighbour is also the person who lives next door! Sometimes, we give ourselves to overseas missions but neglect the mission field over our home’s boundary fences.

It is not always easy to work in that mission field. Even Jesus found that. Three of the four Gospel writers include the story of Jesus being rejected at Nazareth. It is a sad story:

Mark 6:1-6 (The Message)
Just a Carpenter
1He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. 2On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. "We had no idea he was this good!" they said. "How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?"
3But in the next breath they were cutting him down: "He's just a carpenter--Mary's boy. We've known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?" They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.
4Jesus told them, "A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child." 5Jesus wasn't able to do much of anything there--he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that's all. 6He couldn't get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching.

Jesus accepted the challenge of their stubbornness and moved on. However, as he moved on he had the knowledge he had tried to teach them. It was in doing that he failed. He never gave up before he tried to teach them. He did not walk away from them because he knew them. They rejected him because they thought they knew him already.
I guess that is one of the difficulties of our home mission field. So many people think they know Jesus. We must try to share his love and the message that he is “The way, the truth and the life (John 14: 6). People then need to make their own decision about him. Our task is to love them and give them that chance.

PRAYER:
Father, I pray that you will help me in the hardest mission field. That is the places where I am known. Help me to share Jesus in the love I show today. Amen.
[Listen: CongregationalSong: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_014.mp3

Vocal solo: Mandy Williams: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_256.mp3]

The Saviour of men came to seek and to save
The souls who were lost to the good;
His Spirit was moved for the world which he loved
With the boundless compassion of God.
And still there are fields where the laborers are few,
And still there are souls without bread,
And still eyes that weep where the darkness is deep,
And still straying sheep to be led.

Chorus
Except I am moved with compassion,
How dwelleth thy Spirit in me?
In word and in deed
Burning love is my need;
I know I can find this in thee.

O is not the Christ 'midst the crowd of today
Whose questioning cries do not cease?
And will he not show to the hearts that would know
The things that belong to their peace?
But how shall they hear if the preacher forbear
Or lack in compassionate zeal?
Or how shall hearts move with the Master's own love,
Without his anointing and seal?

It is not with might to establish the right,
Nor yet with the wise to give rest;
The mind cannot show what the heart longs to know
Nor comfort a people distressed.
O Saviour of men, touch my spirit again,
And grant that thy servant may be
Intense every day, as I labor and pray,
Both instant and constant for thee.
Author: Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 527

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