By Tim Childs
In our
modern age of principally engaging in selfish interests, Christians must not
neglect to revisit the theme pertaining to “the spirit of Christ” and adopt it
on a far greater scale. Too many of us have forgotten what Jesus Christ is all
about. We have allowed what is most important in the kingdom of heaven to lapse
from our memories (cf.
Examining
the life of our Lord during his public ministry, we observe the life of a Man
who truly loved to serve and bless His fellowman. Jesus did not come to be
petted, pampered and waited upon. He did not come to amass an impressive
treasury. However, the “Son of man” did come “to minister, and to give his life
a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Jesus cared and continues to care about the
well-being of people (just like you and me), not the least of which are the
fulfilling of man’s spiritual needs. Are we following in His steps?
Reflect
a moment upon a given day when Jesus, the pre-eminent spiritual leader of God’s
people, entered the small town of
You
and I do not know the extent to which Jesus was offering to put Himself out,
but apparently the military commander thought it was too great a sacrifice on
Jesus’ part. The Roman centurion had both faith and insight to understand
Jesus’ authority and power, and essentially insisted that Jesus not go to the
trouble of travelling to the dwelling of the palsied man. Jesus announced He was
quite impressed with the centurion’s tremendous faith and promptly healed the
centurion’s servant without going to meet him.
In His
famed address, Jesus taught us, His disciples, to go the second mile in our
service. “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him two”
(Matthew 5:41). We can never bring honour to Him whose name we profess to wear
when we attempt to cut corners and see just how little we can do to get by.
Skimpy on service is not living like Jesus, the Christ.
www.gospelgazette.com/MP3/GGO20812.mp3 By Tim Childs