Who is the most important person in the room? Is it the one sitting in the front row? Is the well dressed person? The most educated? Or who has the most connections?
Perhaps it’s the one you don’t notice. The one bringing cold water to the thirsty. Or an extra chair to the pregnant woman. The one whose arms are holding the hurting. Maybe it is the one you hardly see it all.
I can imagine Jesus walking down the beach, looking for friends. Searching for someone to share his life with. Suddenly his eyes locked with Peter’s and he said, “Come follow me and I will make you a fisher of men.” Peter dropped his net and followed Jesus. Has there ever been more of a generous response to an invitation as Peter’s. He left everything he knew to follow Jesus.
So many times people think they are following Jesus because they feel important in a position of influence, but really, they want Jesus to follow them. Jesus isn’t found at the front of the line. Jesus often isn’t even found in the church service, he doesn’t feel comfortable there many times. His generous and kind heart is not welcome because there’s no room for real, genuine friendship. So much is based on acquiring a position that disqualifies those who do not add up.
So he goes to the shores or the streets. He walks through the parks and sits next to the lonely. He shares a sandwich with them the broken hearted.
His heart is not in a hurry, his timing is perfect. He is perfect. He is generous! Generosity is not the size of your check book or how many volunteer hours you put in. Generosity is living with a heart prepared to host the presence of Jesus. If Jesus feels comfortable in your heart, people will feel comfortable in your presence.
Kerry Blacklock