A Different Kind of Influencer

Sometimes Christians see non-Christians as the enemy: “Those sinners. Look at what they’re doing. Look at the lifestyle they’ve chosen.” Preachers rant about particular sins and certain things people are doing. But let’s remember something: Behind those sins are empty, searching, lost people whom God loves.

Let’s also remember that we used to be those people, and someone lovingly reached out to us. We are not called to condemn. Rather we are called to appeal to unbelievers with the message of the gospel. And we need compassion to do so.

Compassion overflowed from the life of Jesus. He was always moved by the needs of people.

When Jesus saw Mary and Martha weeping over the death of their brother, Lazarus, even though He knew that He was about to resurrect him, the Bible says that He “was deeply troubled” (John 11:33 NLT). This phrase carries the idea of physical as well as emotional and spiritual anguish.

And as Jesus watched them weeping over their brother, His heart went out to them. He was in anguish too. He hurt for them and with them. And He wept. Then, when He raised Lazarus from the dead, He was deeply moved because He cared. That’s our Savior.

Later, when He came to the city of Jerusalem, instead of feeling anger for the people, He had compassion on them. Being God, He knew exactly what they were about to do. He knew the same crowds who were crying out, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13 NLT) soon would be shouting, “Crucify Him!”

Yet Jesus looked at Jerusalem and had compassion on the people, saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me” (Matthew 23:37 NLT).

As Jesus hung on the cross, despite all of His excruciating pain and anguish, whom did He think of? Whom did He pray for? He said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NLT).

When one of the criminals being crucified with Jesus appealed to Him, He said, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NLT). First, He prayed for those responsible for His crucifixion. Then, He prayed for someone in pain. And then He looked down, and seeing His mother standing next to John, said, “Dear woman, here is your son” (John 19:26 NLT). In other words, “John, take care of My mom.” He always was thinking of others.

Jesus cares. And so should we.

We can reach many people far more effectively than preachers can sometimes. That’s because they work with us. They live next to us. God has given each of us a group of people whom we influence. And God wants to use us right where we are. So, let’s make ourselves available to Him.

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