I Thought We Were Christians?

I was reading my Bible today, and this thought popped up in my mind: "I want to be like Jesus."

Not in the sense that I want supernatural powers and be able to perform miracles, but I want the kind of wisdom that Jesus had. I want the kind of compassion for people that Jesus had. I want to portray the love that Jesus had. I want the resiliency to sin that Jesus had. Just imagine- if Jesus is GOD [John 1], having Christ-like wisdom would mean having the wisdom of GOD! The same wisdom that created stars and cosmic bodies would be in you! Christ-like resistance to sin would mean that the Adversary, AKA god of this world [2 Cor. 4] wouldn't even be able to touch you!

But more than anything, I want the compassion of Christ. To see even the worst people and ache for that person to know Jesus. To see homeless and struggling people trying to get by, and be able to provide for them what God has provided for me.

Today I was at Pawley's again (see first post) with my friends, and a young black man approached our table of about ten people. He most likely wasn't homeless, but he needed money for his son (I couldn't hear the reason, perhaps for an operation, or simply putting food on the table). And this man, riddled in tattoos, was speed drawing portraits of people for money. What's interesting is that he told us that if we didn't like the drawing, then we could just keep it. Not a very efficient way to raise money.

Maybe I'm just naive. But I wanted to help him so badly. I wanted to encourage him. To take time and talk to him. But I didn't have any cash. And all I could feel was disappointment. I was disappointed in my friends (and yes, I'm aware some of them might read this and recognize I'm talking about them) for blatantly ignoring and avoiding this man with a presupposed, judgmental filter to block him out. But even more disappointed in myself. Disappointed that I was to powerless to do anything, too spineless to extend a helping hand or voice. How hard would it have been for me to catch up with him and offer something to eat, or go to the bank and withdraw money for him, or even just give a few encouraging words to him? A question for me and to all my friends: how would you have acted if Jesus was at the table eating with us?

"'For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did no welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'" Matthew 25:42-45

In Christ,
Peter