April 29, 2024
Usually, when two or more men meet for the first time, the conversation eventually turns to employment. “So, what do you do?” will be asked of each, and the answers will be disclosed.
We tend to search for a level of commonality or interest in how people make a living. Our purpose also gives us a sense of identity.
When it came to Jesus, His mission was clear. He made plain by the words He said what He came to do. Even more so, His love was revealed by His actions. With every word and deed, Jesus pointed us to a relationship with God the Father.
As the Son of God, each activity and attribute was holy, compassionate and kind. His ministry should be the two-fold standard of our own: dependence on the Heavenly Father and love and investment in others.
When studying the life and ministry of Christ, we often see the frequency of miracles He performed. Jesus performed the miracles for two primary reasons. One, Jesus was gracious and loved others. He encountered hurt, broken and diseased people.
His compassion was evident with each miracle. Secondly, there was a broader picture when a miracle occurred.
There is a spiritual dynamic within supernatural events that should spur us not to worship miracles but the One who is able to make them happen.
Only some received healing for the body in the days of Jesus, but each of us is provided healing for the soul by the cross and the finished work of Christ. It is this healing that will be eternal.
Jesus used each opportunity afforded Him to teach and share what it means to be a true follower of God and how to be obedient.
Study the following words in these verses: poor, hungry, sad and hated. If we are committed disciples of Jesus, we will each experience one, and possibly all of these descriptions.
Jesus wanted to assure them that in adversity, He would remain with them and be faithful to them. Far deeper and more lasting than happiness, Jesus calls us blessed when we face obstacles larger than we thought possible. The truest way to know God is through a complete dependence upon Him.
Twenty centuries have passed since these words were spoken by Jesus, and they still stand in opposition to the ways of the world.
I know of few things harder in the Christian life than to practice love and forgiveness toward those who have been evil and hateful toward me or my loved ones.
If we wear the name of Christ, how we treat others will be put to the test. It is in these moments when the cross is our hope.
The longer we ponder the love and pardon Jesus granted us, the more we will be willing and able to forgive others.
In a world filled with sermons on love that are pleasing to the ear, we need to have more practice that is visible to the eyes.
So what do you do for a living? Maybe it is time to love as He loves and make it our job to extend the ministry of Jesus each day.
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This lesson was written by Bobby McKay, pastor of New Liberty Baptist Church in Morton, Mississippi, and originally published by The Baptist Paper. This study is based on the Bible Studies for Life curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources.
