“Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us; and, God has visited His people.””
Luke 7:16
In Luke 7:11-17 Jesus stopped a funeral procession when He saw a widowed woman who was just moments away from laying her only son to rest. This woman had lost her husband and lost all hope of any future because her only son had died. But when Jesus saw her He felt compassion for her. He touched the casket and told the dead man to get up. Immediately and miraculously the man sat up and began speaking. The large crowd was amazed at what they saw but most importantly verse 16 says they glorified God because they recognized Jesus as God.
This passage of Scripture gives us a perfect portrait of how a church is to minister to people. We must realize that the church is who represents Jesus in today’s society. We must see the needs of others and reach out and touch them with compassion and love. When the lost are touched with the love of Jesus, they come alive, spiritually. A church will glorify God when they are on mission and ministering to His people. We can’t miss any opportunities of serving people. And we can never lose our focus of the mission.
An encouraged church congregation can be effective in fulfilling its mission. A discouraged church will not be effective. Every church needs faithful members using their God-given gifts. Members who are not using their gifts are wasting them. Compassion brings people together and to the cross of Jesus. If a church is not loving people it’s not a real church.
Are you fulfilling the command of Jesus and making disciples? We must do the work of Jesus while we still can. The day is soon coming when God will gather His church and it will be too late for the lost to be saved.
Pray
Lord, make your church a place and people who are just like You. Help me to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
