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#Rescue2014

“Making men, not moving people”—the mission of Christ’s Church in the world, or as Pastor Hybels states it, “The Church is the hope of the World.” In her the Lord has vested the only message of life that can rescue lost peoples. To this Church the Lord Jesus Christ commands, “Go into all the world and make disciples…”—Matthew 28:20

So, where do we begin? What is the “starting line” for such an overwhelming task? May I suggest that we take a page from the Master who gave the instructions? After three years of hanging out with, listening closely to, watching carefully, Matthew recalled one outstanding characteristic of the One who “came to seek and to save the lost.” What stood out boldly in this detail-oriented follower was this: “Jesus saw…”

Matthew 4: “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers…and going on from there He saw two other brothers…” He saw entrepreneurial businessmen, not simply hobbyist sportsman. But He also saw men with spiritual needs and a spiritual destiny. He saw…He called…He changed their lives forever!

Matthew 5: “Seeing the crowds…” He saw hungry, hopeless desperate people doing their best to be “good” but failing miserably at their greatest efforts. He saw. He cared. He pointed them to life and many hearts were changed forever.

Matthew 8: “When Jesus entered Peter’s house He saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever…” He saw. He did not pull away. He touched the sick and rather than becoming contaminated by contact, she became well by the touch. He changed her life forever.

Matthew 9: “Some people brought to Him a paralytic…and when Jesus saw their faith…” He saw. He cared. He spoke. He healed. He changed their lives forever.

Matthew 9: “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth…” He saw. He stopped. He called. He changed his life forever.

Matthew 9: “Behold, a woman who suffered for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment…Jesus turned and seeing her…” He saw. He cared. He healed. He changed her life forever.

As the Commission was proclaimed to reach the World, Matthew must have thought again of that moment when the Savior stopped at the tax office, looked straight into his own hopeless eyes, called him to follow, and changed His life forever!

“Making men, not moving people,” a command to “be Jesus in our square mile.” To live with our eyes open to the desperate need of those in our sphere of influence. In seeing, we care and in caring, we seek creative ways of bringing them the hope that is only in following Jesus!

There have been long, endless lines of “thirsty people” here at Starbucks for the past hour! Wonder what Jesus would “see” if He stopped in for a Venti Vanilla-Blond Roast?

“And when He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”—Matthew 9:36

See you Sunday, Church!

Pastor Tom