I started, today, re-reading a book that i purchased last year. "A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus" by Eliabeth George. I read a few chapters out of it shortly after i purchased it, but never finished it. When i picked it back up today to start reading, i immediately knew that this is when i was supposed to be reading it. When i started reading it last time, it really didn't speak to me. But as i started reading today, i was convicted immediately.
The 1st chapter is about being "Approachable" to everyone as Jesus was. Of course, i always seem to think that anyone could come to me for anything or any advice and I would be willing to do whatever i could to help. But as i read in this chapter, I began to think that i may not always seem approachable to everyone. My attitude or busyness may leave people thinking otherwise.
It gave several examples of when Jesus was approachable:
1st was in Mark 1:41 when the leper approached Jesus an he healed him immediately,
2nd was in Mark 2:1-5, when Jesus was "busy" preaching God's word, and the friend's of the paralytic brougt him to the packed house and let the bed down through the roof and Jesus stopped in the middle of his sermon and miraculously healed the man.
3rd in Matthew 19 where the parents brought the little children to Jesus to pray over and the disciples thought that Jesus was too important to be bothered, but Jesus said "Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt.19:14-15) He laid his hands on them.
4th in Mark 7:24-30 the Gentile woman approached Jesus and asked him to cast the demon out of her daughter and he did.
How wonderful is that. Oh how i desire to have an "approachable" appearance and heart as Jesus did. As it was giving all of these examples and giving all of the "excuses" that us as humans would use in times of people approaching us for help to do something or even just for advice really hit home and convicted me. I want to be "approachable" as Jesus was. I know that i will not reach the perfection of Christ until i am face to face with him, but in the mean time my desire is to be as much like Christ as possible.
Are you really "Approachable"? Would you stop in the middle of what you were doing, that seemed "important", to help anyone? Would you change your schedule or postpone something that you had planned to help someone in need? Of course i would answer "yes" immediately to these questions when asked, but when it comes down to it I'm not sure that it would be that easy. Of course, it is easy when it is someone you love or a friend, but what about if it's someone that you don't know or someone that you consider "lower" than you??? This was a very convicting chapter to me and gave me a lot to think about in my journey with Christ!
Love in Christ,
Becca
Becca, this is so true! Often we wear our 'business' as a badge as if were something that makes us somebody...but it really limits what God can do through us and how He can use us. Thank you for that!
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