Snapshots: The One who notices you

One on One in His Ministry Years—Day 34

Jesus had as much time as everyone else, yet He was never in a hurry. He took the time to notice people, even the ones others overlooked. His favorite moments were when He caught His own being faithful. And when He did . . .

 . . . Jesus rewarded the creative ones.  Mark 2:1-12

After Jesus brushed off the dirt and straw from His hair and shoulders, He likely looked up and laughed. Four young men peeked through the hole in the roof. Their bold belief in Jesus gave them the idea to lower their paralyzed friend down on a blanket in front of Him. “We couldn’t get in the door,” they said half-apologetically. Crowds packed the place. “And our friend needs You.”

*To what lengths will you go to introduce your friends to Jesus? 

. . . Jesus sympathized with the victimized.  Mark 5:1-20

Madman. Demoniac. On the other side of the Sea of Galilee, a ‘kid next door’ had morphed into a foaming-at-the-mouth monster. But even with the legion of demons controlling his mind and body, the kid ran to Jesus the second He stepped on shore. Jesus knew his whole story and how the demons raged inside him. He couldn’t be happier to command the whole filthy legion out of the young man (and into a herd of pigs nearby—who then ran off a cliff). Restored, the young man wanted to join Jesus’ group, but Jesus told him instead, go tell your neighbors what I've done for you. When the young man did, it brought the town such excitement to hear about Jesus that they completely changed the story they told about him.

*Instead of “victim,” what do people say about you since Jesus changed your identity?

. . . Jesus honored the one hated for his race.  Luke 10:25-37

In Jesus’ day, you’d never call a Samaritan “good.” Jews called them half-breed, heathen, unclean. Yet that didn’t matter to the Samaritan who inspired Jesus’ parable. On the treacherous road out of Jericho when the Samaritan came upon a beaten and robbed Jewish man left for dead, he stopped and cared for him like he would a neighbor, even at his own expense—unlike the racist, religious men who stepped over the suffering man on their way to worship in Jerusalem. Perhaps because the Samaritan had tasted man’s hatred could he instead serve up kindness to the broken one God loves. Suffering levels us all to the place of mercy. *Who in your world needs you to show them God’s mercy?

. . . Jesus multiplied the small gift of a small boy.   Mark 6:30-44

No one in the crowd knew it was his lunch that fed them that day. No one else’s mother sent their boy out with a snack of sardines and barley crackers—or at least no one else was willing to share theirs. But neither did anyone else hear the Teacher say, “thanks, lad” as He tussled his hair. With a mischievous grin, perhaps the Lord even leaned down and whispered—just watch what I’ll do with your gift. C.S. Lewis once said, “He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.” The generous boy who had only one gift to offer God got to be used by God to treat 15,000 people to lunch. * If you’re willing for God to use you, what could He do with your one small gift?

Think about this: at the same time Jesus took these quiet snapshots of faith, He kept atoms spinning. Tides turning. Axis tilting. Gravity pulling. While the Creator and Sustainer of the universe keeps everything in its place, He notices every act of faith you do today. When you walk with Him, it makes Him so glad.

Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

Tomorrow: One on one with Jesus and His days to come

Let’s talk about it:

1.               To what lengths will you go to introduce your friends to Jesus?

2.               Who in your world needs you to show them God’s mercy?

3.               What could God do with your one small gift, if you’re willing for Him to do anything?