It's Time for Jesus to Come!
A couple visiting in Asia saw a father and his son working in a paddy field. The old man guided the heavy plow as the boy helped to pull it. “I guess they must be very poor,” the man said to the missionary, who was the couple’s guide and translator. “Yes,” replied the missionary. “When the church was built, they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money. So, they sold their ox and gave the money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves.” After a long silence, the woman said, “That was a real sacrifice.” The missionary responded, “They do not call it a sacrifice. They are just thankful that they had an ox to sell. Giving to God is not sacrifice. It is duty.”
There is a saying in India, “If you give what you do not need, it isn’t giving.” There is another saying in China, “A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.” These sayings spell out the practical religion which Christ taught in His life and teachings.
Christ commissions us to reach the people and then teach them the love of God. “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’ ”1
What was Christ’s method? He met the needs of the people and then they followed Him.
Matthew 20 describes the blind men. What did they need? They needed to see! Before they could see spiritually, they needed to get past their physical need. Jesus didn’t tell them to “ignore it.” If He had, they would have forgotten about Jesus and spent the rest of their lives accepting pity. We may not have the kind of faith that can heal a blind man, but we surely can be of greater service than just to offer pity.
Problems and illnesses come as a result of sin—the transgression of God’s moral law of Ten Commandments. But like the friends of Job, when beholding the flaws and predicaments of others, we do not always view matters in a proper light.
When we think about the great issues relating to right and wrong, often the first things that come to mind are the wrong things that others do—their glaring defects which annoy or even hurt us. Yes, they may be wrong things, for which those persons will need to give account to God. But the Master of all the universe—the Author of right and wrong—tells us, “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee” (Proverbs 20:22). “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door” (James 5:9). So that Supreme Judge of others is also the judge of each one of us, too. How we treat the faults of others will affect how we ourselves will be treated by our Master.
“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (Matthew 18:23–35).
What clear message do we learn from this parable?
“He who is unforgiving cuts off the very channel through which alone he can receive mercy from God. We should not think that unless those who have injured us confess the wrong we are justified in withholding from them our forgiveness. It is their part, no doubt, to humble their hearts by repentance and confession; but we are to have a spirit of compassion toward those who have trespassed against us, whether or not they confess their faults.
“Nothing can justify an unforgiving spirit. He who is unmerciful toward others shows that he himself is not a partaker of God’s pardoning grace. In God’s forgiveness the heart of the erring one is drawn close to the great heart of Infinite Love. The tide of divine compassion flows into the sinner’s soul, and from him to the souls of others. . . .
“We are not forgiven becauseas we forgive, but we forgive. The ground of all forgiveness is found in the unmerited love of God, but by our attitude toward others we show whether we have made that love our own. Wherefore Christ says, ‘With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.’ ”2
Great it may be—or so it may just seem to be. Jesus asks a pointed question, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3–5).
The apostle explains the challenge involved in correcting the wrongs of others: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
If the Spirit of Christ dwells in our hearts, we will not be busily looking for things to condemn in others. Rather our aim will be to help, bless, and save them. When it is necessary to deal with wrong, we are to consider ourselves, lest we also be tempted. We will recall the many times we, too, have made numerous mistakes in life and remember how hard it was to find our way back. In such a light, our compassion for our brother will know no bounds.
“God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt in His estimation, as well as in that of man; but however trifling this or that wrong act may seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God. Man’s judgment is partial, imperfect; but God estimates all things as they really are. The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven; while pride, selfishness, and covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God; for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give.”3
But as we often look upon the cross of Calvary, remembering that it is our own sins that placed Jesus there, we will never try to estimate the degree of our guilt in comparison with that of others. We will not climb up on stilts of self-righteousness to accuse another. There is no spirit of criticism or self-exaltation in those who walk in the shadow of Calvary’s cross.
The heart of Jesus overflows with tender pity for those who fall prey to temptation. It is not our mission to speak harsh, cutting words that drive the erring soul further from His saving grace—but rather to conduct a heartfelt mission of tender, earnest appeal for reconciliation to God.
John chapter 8 portrays a woman caught in adultery. She needed protection, acceptance, and forgiveness. Jesus could not show her a better way until He had won her confidence and love. God did not call us to be policemen but rather to be His instruments who love all for whom His precious blood was shed—to be those who hate the sin but love the sinner. Yes, there is a time to call sin by its right name, but only after the sinner can sense the drawing power of genuine unconditional love!
John chapter 3 illustrates this in Nicodemus’ meeting with Jesus. What did this proud Pharisee need? A spiritual counselor, someone who could speak to his heart, with a poignant appeal to be born again. Through love, Jesus gently opened the mind and heart of this sincere seeker after truth, and He gained a follower.
Luke chapter 6 depicts a group of Pharisees. They needed to have an honest glimpse into their own motivations for harboring a heinous “holier-than-thou” attitude. Jesus showed them this reality by being a help to the man with the withered hand. The group ultimately made the choice of pride to not follow Jesus. Likewise, many today, when their authority or pet beliefs are challenged, they choose rather to follow pride than Jesus. How sad it is!
Mark chapter 6 recounts the feeding of the 5,000. What did these people need? It depends upon when the question is asked. First, they needed to hear the teachings of Jesus. That is why they were there. But as the day progressed, their needs changed. Their need for teaching changed to their need for eating. Jesus met this need so that He could once again meet their need for teaching. People’s needs change. We continually need to meet those needs and continually draw them to Jesus.
Jesus taught His disciples this very thing. “And into whatsoever city ye enter . . . heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you” (Luke 10:8, 9).
See what the Lord is saying here: “Heal first, and then tell about God.” Meet their needs and then share with them the answer to their greater need.
All are bidden to be perfect (Matthew 5:48)—and once we finally stop focusing on the defects of others, we are reminded of our own flaws. Thankfully, the merciful God of heaven declares, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” (Isaiah 1:18–20).
The investigative judgment is something for which we can be thankful. Just imagine how it would be if the government of the universe had no justice! What a frustrating idea. The fact that our God knows us so well—knows even our thoughts and the motives that prompt our actions—reveals how much He cares, and how ready He is to meet our needs, just as He bids us meet the needs of others. We are not orphans! We have a Father in heaven who graciously provides for us.
“When Satan comes to tell you that you are a great sinner, look up to your Redeemer and talk of His merits. That which will help you is to look to His light. Acknowledge your sin, but tell the enemy that ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ and that you may be saved by His matchless love.”4
“In words of great tenderness, Christ invites us, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ When you respond to this invitation, when you learn what it means to find rest by lifting the cross and bearing it after the Lord, you will be true witnesses for Him. But until this lesson is learned, self will appear, and Jesus will be kept in the background.
“Come to Christ, and His gentleness and love will break down the harsh, cold selfishness that prevents you from revealing Him to the world. Your hasty temper will be subdued, your pride expelled. Jesus will fill your heart with His gentleness, His patience, His love. Then you can lift Him up before sinners. Working for Him, you will lose all thought of self. For His dear sake you will be willing to endure shame and reproach.
“The Lord says, ‘Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.’ ‘Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.’
“We must have a knowledge of ourselves, a knowledge that results in contrition, before we can find pardon and peace. It is only he who knows himself to be a sinner that Christ can save. We must know our true condition, or we shall not feel our need of Christ’s help. We must understand our danger, or we shall not flee to the refuge. We must feel the pain of our wounds, or we shall not desire healing.
“Are you willing to cast down the idols you have cherished? Are you willing to let Jesus enter the heart to cleanse it from all that defiles? Are you at all times and under all circumstances, obtaining the mastery over yourself? Can you say, ‘For me to live is Christ,’ I am His? Whatever I have, of time, or strength, or influence, all is His? Are you representing Him by your forbearance, your patience, your unselfishness? Are you learning to be like Him?
“God’s word to us is, ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ He calls upon every one to crucify self. Those who respond grow strong in Him. They learn daily from Christ, and the more they learn, the greater is their desire to build up God’s kingdom by helping their fellowmen. The more enlightenment they have, the greater is their desire to enlighten others. The more they talk with God, the less they live to themselves. The greater their privileges, opportunities, and facilities for Christian work, the greater is the obligation they feel to work for others.
“Human nature is ever struggling for expression. He who is made complete in Christ must first be emptied of pride, of self-sufficiency. Then there is silence in the soul, and God’s voice can be heard. Then the Spirit can find unobstructed entrance. Let God work in and through you. Then with Paul you can say, ‘I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me.’ But until self is laid on the altar, until we let the Holy Spirit mould and fashion us according to the divine similitude, we can not reach God’s ideal for us.
“Christ said, ‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ This life is what we must have in order to work for Christ, and we must have it ‘more abundantly.’ God will breathe this life into every soul that dies to self. But entire self- renunciation is required. Unless this takes place, we carry with us that which destroys our happiness and usefulness.
“The Lord needs men and women who carry with them into the daily life the light of a godly example, men and women whose words and actions show that Christ is abiding in the heart, teaching, leading, and guiding. He needs men and women of prayer, who, by wrestling alone with God, obtain the victory over self, and then go forth to impart to others that which they have received from the Source of power. God accepts those who crucify self, and makes them vessels unto honor. They are in His hands as clay in the hands of the potter, and He works His will through them. Such men and women receive spiritual power. Christ lives in them, and the power of His Spirit attends their efforts. They realize that they are to live in this world the life that Jesus lived —a life free from all selfishness; and He enables them to bear witness for Him that draws souls to the cross of Calvary.”5
Remember the words of Martin Luther, “I have tried to keep things in my hands and lost them all, but what I have given into God’s hands I still possess.”
Do your giving while you’re living so you know where it’s going. God judges what we give by what we keep.
“It’s not what you do with the million,
If riches should be at your lot.
But what are you doing at present
With the dollar and cents that you got?
Practical Christianity is what the world needs. “Practical Christianity is the revealing in word and action of the will of God.”6 When people know that we are genuine, when they know that we truly care, when we meet their needs, only then can we invite them to Jesus. In order to know those needs, we must know those people. When God’s work is done in God’s way for God’s glory, it will never lack God’s supply.