Hosanna

by Pastor James Bell

We like to think that Jesus is present with us at church. Without the Spirit of Christ we are simply empty people going through a religious exercise. We invite him, even implore him, to come as we gather in his name. But what about after that? Does the presence of the Lord descend and ascend on weekends? Do we really take his presence with us wherever we go? And does Jesus get out in the community, even if we don’t?

I can’t say I’ve literally seen him at one of our hospitals, but I know I’ve felt him there on many occasions. He doesn’t hesitate to enter any room or waiting area, and he so often does. He comes early and stays late. Sometimes he stays all night.

He stoops low to comfort a lonely child on the playground at the elementary school. He stands beside the middle-schooler, whispering encouragement as she is ridiculed for her faith. He strengthens a weary high school teacher who wonders if we are losing the cultural battle for the souls of our kids. He cries over the disintegration of faith as another one of his children is led astray by peer pressure.

He sits under bridges with homeless people, sharing the heartbreak of lies, deception and addiction. He just won’t give up, even when they use his father’s name in vain. He knows all the dark backstreets and alleyways. He has been in some dangerous situations. He know where women are hurting and when grown men cry.

He walks back to the car with the disappointed mother who couldn’t afford all she needed from Kroger’s. He saw what she had to put back. He watches the dad who doesn’t have seconds at supper, knowing there isn’t enough for everyone to have more. Their kids pray to him that night before they go to sleep. Jesus knows stuff.

He visits some beautiful homes where his name is shouted loudly and hate fills the conversation. Marriages are bending, almost breaking, as he enters the room. He whispers to a woman who feels rejected. He reasons with a man who is misunderstood. He tries to put back broken pieces of people’s hearts. All those things were just on Monday. Six more days ’til Sunday.

What does Jesus want us to do? There must be a better solution than relocating the church to Cinco Ranch. Could it be that Jesus looks around during our services, spotting someone here, and another one there, who could really make a difference? What if we added some skin to the Holy Spirit? What if we invited the King of Kings to manifest through us? Now don’t react too quickly. The results could be devastating to us personally. Consider these possible negatives:

You might have to miss America’s Got Talent.
You could delay the purchase of the new 52” Samsung for a few months to help someone.
You risk the emotional scars caused by thinking about people other than your immediate family.
You would possibly become a servant of God instead of a consumer of God (Yikes!)

I have this vision of Jesus on a Harley (the white horse comes with the physical second coming). He leans over to some of us, as we survey the under-resourced (read it “poor”) in our community. He says with a tired-but-determined voice, “As often as you do good things to these people, you are doing them to me.” Then I imagine how glorious the Sunday services will be when we have blessed him before he blesses us.

Some people are content to send money to the mission field and that’s a really good thing to do. Some people will go on a mission trip and try to help for a few days, and that’s also a good thing. But God is calling us to be a conduit of love and compassion right into our own community all year long.

You will be hearing all kinds of ways you can help. Pray about joining Jesus for some of those days between the services. I guarantee it will enrich your relationship with him.
Just another servant,

James

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