In the four gospels, we see Jesus spending time with all sorts of people. He healed, he blessed, he talked about the kingdom of God and mostly, he loved them. As many have noted, these people were not the beautiful, healthy, powerful or impressive. They were often the least of society, the outcasts–drunks, addicts, tax collectors, lepers, prostitutes, you name it.
It’s understandable, I think, that these were the people who were drawn to Jesus and the ones he was drawn to. As he said, he came for the sick, not the well. He came for the ones who really needed him.
But the twist to this story is that if we don’t see that we too are the sick, we won’t see the need. If we don’t realize that we are the weak and the helpless, despite all the actions we can take, the projects we complete, the service we offer, we will miss it.
The thing is that we all ultimately stand in need. If our lives now are in order, that’s great. If we are successful and happy, that’s wonderful. If we haven’t had any problems yet, fantastic!
But even if you don’t have a miserable life now, if God is real and if Jesus if working and alive, it makes sense to pursue him. And the good news is that He’s already pursuing you.
For sure, those who suffer have a better sense of their need. The door to the rest of eternity is wide open–and when the pleasures and joys of this life are thin, it’s a lot easier to see it.
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