January is Sanctity of Human Life month. I was privilleged to get to speak about a special ministry I am involved in yesterday at a local church. I was truly honored to be able to speak about the ministry I am involved in and it was the first time I shared my testimony with people whom I'd never met. What really struck me though was my own reaction to words God had given me to speak. I had written my speech and I read an reread it before I spoke, but still the Lord moved in my heart when I shared these words:
"Matthew 25:40 says "And the King will answer them, 'truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'" There is no more helpless indvidual than an unborn child nestled in his mother's womb. But what can we do for that unborn child when we can not touch him? We can not physically perserve his life with our own hands. But, we can touch the life of his mother. We can speak truth to her. Truth, that, her baby is "fearfully and wonderfully made" and that she has a God who loves her. We can help her with her physical needs and teach her how to be a good mother. We can offer her hope for the future by showing her that she has more than one option in her situation. And, we can love her unconditionally just as Christ does."
Someone did that for me. God did that for me. My sin brought brokeness to my dying body. God gave me new life through Jesus Christ as a young mother. Oh what that means to me! What that has meant to my husband and my children and the people I interact with! What that means to the glory of God!
When the Pharisees accused Jesus of interacting with sinners and the worst of all people they accused him of caring for me.
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3 comments:
I was one of many tearing up yesterday - God did give you some powerful words, and used them to move the hearts of His people.
And you're so right about Jesus' choice to hang with sinners, not Pharisees. Seems we still forget that these days when all we do is hang out with church friends to the exclusion of the world, in fear of them, in judgement of them, and boasting in ourselves.
May God give us His love for others, and humble us in our arrogance that we are better than the world. - Juli
In response to anonymous
I wonder if we should compare the body of Christ, which is his unblemished, spotless bride, to the pharisees which Jesus referred to as a brood of vipers. Seems to me the pharisees were rejecting Jesus as Lord and Saviour, as King. Jesus lived, ate, walked and spent immense amount of time with his disciples. When Jesus hung out with "sinners" weren't his disciples with him? I think we should be careful not to judge his Bride too harshly and should look at ways that we as individuals are being unloving. It just gave me chills to see his Beloved bride compared to the pharisees who were blasphemers. I think a more accurate comparison would be to liken us to the disciples.....followers who though quite often blew it, were continually being sanctified. When I "hang out" with my brothers and sisters, it is not to be exclusive but to
be encouraged and strengthen in my walk so that I am of more use to unbelievers in my life.
I'm not sure how this turned into a discussion about who is being labeled as a Pharisee but in rereading both my comments and that of the commentor I do not see where it was ever said that the "Body" was being compared to Pharisees. I was saying my former unbelieving self was one in whom the Pharisees would not have choosen to associate with. I do believe that as part of the Bride of Christ (his diciple) I am often guilty of an attitude similar to the Pharisees. I have snubbed my nose many a time at the lost, even in joking about their state of lostness. Shame on me.
Soldiers can not turn on one another. The enemy will gain some victory or the army will march on without them.
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