I love nature, and I've discovered there's nature everywhere, (you just have to look for it sometimes)! As I went for a little walk this morning, I found a path that lead back into a little wooded area where there was a pond. (Well, at least that's what I will call it). "How neat there's a pond back here! I wonder if I can walk around it", I thought to myself. I tried, but discovered it was more like a muddy dirty swamp than a pond. I looked down at my pants, inevitably they were dirty already. I could continue and get really wet and dirty, but I decided I didn't have the time, nor did I want to get that dirty today. As I finished exercising, I thought of the swampy pond. It has so much potential! A backhoe and some hard work and it could be a beautiful pond with nice trails around it. It's not my job to transform that section of nature though, I don't have the tools, or the skill for a job like that.
My mind couldn't help but turn to my Creator, my Jesus. He too sees the beauty in things. Just as I looked at the swampy pond as the beautiful pond it could become, so Jesus sees my potential and the potential of every fallen child on this mess of a planet we call earth. Jesus could have walked away from the mess, but instead He inserted himself into it, and risked Himself for us. He didn't just get a little dirty, He gave His life because He sees us not as dirty ugly sinners, but as the beautiful children we can become through Him! Unlike my inability to fix the pond, Jesus is God, all powerful, Creator; He has all the resources to do the work that needs to be done! He doesn't just see what needs to be done, He does it! I'm so thankful He never gives up on me, but instead continues to see me for who I can become, and gives me the tools and the life experiences to develop my character. He doesn't leave me to work alone, He does it for me, as long as I'm just as moldable as mud.
I too have a mission. I think of the people I'm here in Mississippi to reach. Some of them look messy in a way. It's not their fault it's due to the hurt, and pain and sufferings caused by sin. There are the ladies on disability who seem to have "no life". There's the boy who spends part of his life with one grandparent, and part of his life with another parent - so different than the family environment I was raised in. There's the older man we met going door-to-door, who when we asked if he enjoyed reading the Bible, he told us he doesn't read very well. It was like culture shock! I mean, we're in America! He's retired and said he'd be happy for us to come back and read the Bible with him. The there's the lady who says she doesn't want to fill out the Bible study guide because her hand shakes when she writes. There's the people who smoke, those with health issues, those who have loved ones who are in the hospital recently diagnosed with cancer, or loved ones who have just passed away. The world is a mess. Is my heart moved with compassion? Do I see people as God sees them? As His children who need the Gospel and who are precious and loved in His sight? It's too easy for me to walk away emotionally from the hurting people, rather than giving my all to the work. It's easy to let people slip who don't look like the "perfect" Bible study contacts - while I'm focused on trying to find or prepare the best Bible studies for each situation. I am reminded, all of these people have some things in common: They are beautiful people created in God's image, they are loved by God, they are open to God's Word.
"Lord give me a heart of compassion to reach people. Give me the vision to see people as You see them! Give me the heart of Jesus that works hard for people whoever they are and where ever they are. Amen."
