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CHRISTIANITY IS A DIRTY BUSINESS
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By:
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Blessing-to-you
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Mood:
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Contemplative
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Date:
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06/26/2008 11:17:50
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Music:
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None
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[The Master] commanded his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.' The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.' The master then ordered the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. LUKE 14 21-2316 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. ROMANS 12:16
MT 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' " MT 3:4 John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. MATTHEW 3:1-4
When God chosen people rejected Jesus, He commanded the Apostles to go out and seek those no one wanted to have to deal with. Who exactly is in those hedgerows- or hedges as we call the today? Who is hiding out there in the dust and dirt beneath the bushes, In our Cities it alleys and in makeshift cardboard cartons.
These are not the Spickety-Span rich folks with whom we all like to rub elbows, No, these are louse-ridden, smelly, dirty, often addicted raggedy folks. To reach them we have to get down on our hands and knees and associate with them on their level.
They say John the Baptist lived in a cave, and trust me on this the elegant of that day lived in splendor we can only dream of today, Sure they didn have all the electronic gear, but they had running water, working toilets, and beautiful community spas.
John lived like a homeless person today and reached a huge population of the local disenfranchised. In fact his words became so important that the ruler imprisoned him and finally had him executed. Talk about your ministry being extremely effective!
Today we like our comforts and prefer our merits being lauded on billboards. The Apostles never had a life of ease, they traveled with Jesus on the dusty roads of Palestine, once they hadn eaten in a while so as they walked through the wheat fields they crushed the grains in their fingers and snacked on this rough food.
The Apostles also had to continue to take care of their families so they also had to continue working at their professions, and it was in these places where they talked to others of their class and convinced them also to follow Jesus.
Jesus sent the 12 out to preach color=#710cfa>MT 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: " 7 As you go, preach this message: `The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.MATTHEW 10:11-14
Where do you suppose the dust got on their feet? You guessed it they walked, they got right down on the level of the people to whom they preached.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' MATTHEW 25:34-40
Wherever God calls us to minister, we can bring great fruit. If when we roll up our sleeves to grapple in the hedgerows, if we minister to motorcycle groups, visit hospitals, prisons and jails, have a chapel in a semi-truck container in a Truck stop in the badlands of Oregon, preach in a fancy air-conditioned edifice in a large city, or travel to the worst of the city streets; going into sleazy bars and holding out a helping hand is God Work and it gritty, earthy and real. Won you join us?
Lord, In my comfort I forget that there are those out there that could use some comfort only You can provide and then only by me getting dirty and doing Your work. Remind me Lord to stay open to Your leading and be ready to extend Your love by getting dirty and doing the work You sent out for me. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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