To most people he was not even noticed as he stood in the dark. His dark weathered skin not showing up even with the distant lights. But, the cracked red lips that have been in the weather for years stood out. Most passersby didn’t notice him at all, nor had they for the years he had been there. Some noticed and saw the scum of the earth. They saw a no count lazy homeless black man if they saw anything at all. But I saw something different. I saw the cracked lips of someone in need. I saw the savior sitting at the well needing a drink of water.
To a good many people we are may be the first and only Jesus they have ever seen. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth to follow his example (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul had lived a life among them that they were to follow. A life that they were to imitate. He lived the kind of life that when they saw Paul they might be seeing a reflection of Jesus. After all Paul said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). The example then was that we should be Christ like. How can we be Christ like, how can we be Christians and see our brothers in need and walk by not noticing them? A helping hand, a touch or even just a moment of conversation can open these people in need up to the Gospel of the Lord. To them we are representatives of the Risen Savior. To us they are the same Risen Savior!
Jesus was asked, “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink” (Matthew 25:37)? And, Jesus replied, “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 25:40). We serve Christ by serving those around us in need. Maybe they are in our neighborhoods. Maybe they are in other towns Maybe they are in other countries. There are people all around us that need our help. And, when we serve them we serve the Risen Savior. Just as we represent Christ to them, they represent Christ to them. As we serve each other we serve Christ.
We are the first Christ that many people see. In turn, when we serve them they are the Risen Savior that we serve: they represent Christ to us. When we look at the needed and they look at us Jesus looks in a mirror. Today as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ we need to look around and see Christ all around us and be prepared to represent Him to others. Jesus is grown now; he can feed himself. Are you willing to be His spoon?
There are many ministries around that help the poor and the homeless. One such near me is PIN Ministries. Look in your area and maybe you can give Jesus a bite to eat.
Until next time May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You: All Y’all!
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
bobby@bobbycohoon.com
