Sitting With Jesus

Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged. But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.  2 Corinthians 4:1-4 NET

Every person in our lives is created in the image of God, and Jesus commands each and every one of us to follow Him. God has placed these people on our path so that we will do everything that we can to be part of their salvation story. Whether it is a lifelong friendship or a 15 minute chat with fellow coffee drinker waiting in a lineup.  Following Jesus means that we must be willing to share Jesus with other people, be willing to speak about repentance, redemption, rescue! And pray that they may receive Holy Spirit, surrender to our Heavenly Father, and follow the way, the truth, the life, the Saviour!  Hallelujah!

Luke 10:30-34 NET  Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him up, and went off, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, but when he saw the injured man he passed by on the other side. So too a Levite, when he came up to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the injured man was, and when he saw him, he felt compassion for him. He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took him inside.

As believers we can be love in ACTION when we have EMPATHY and use it alongside our own story. 

Empathy is like the ministry of presence, where we are able to be with people in their pain because we are open to being vulnerable- telling the pieces of our own testimony even the smashed pieces - and remember too that sitting and understanding someone else’s journey requires listening, prayer, and a willingness to rely on Holy Spirit’s understanding of the situation or circumstance

The Samaritan had empathy and took pity on the man; he was with him in his pain. The Samaritan used not only his resources but his time to help the man who was robbed and beaten.

He interceded on behalf of the man and demonstrated a heart of generosity, willing to do whatever necessary to support his neighbor, a stranger!

It is our job to step boldly for God, absolutely relying on His direction, sitting with Jesus in intercessory prayer because, we GET to live with complete dependence on Jesus Christ. We get to express that dependence in prayer, in faith for resources and God’s provision, in faith for discernment and decisions, in trusting our very life (health and security) to Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus is our life.