Lesson 3

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Lesson  3,  Devotion  2  

Lesson  3,  Devotion  1   “On  hearing  this,  Jesus  said,  “It  is  not  the  healthy   who  need  a  doctor,  but  the  sick.”  ⎯  Matthew  9:12             What  would  you  say  about  a  doctor  whose  office   was  only  open  to  those  who  were  feeling   awesome?  “No  sick  people  allowed,”  the  sign  on   the  front  door  might  say.  What  kind  of  reputation   would  this  doctor  have?  Not  a  very  good  one,   right?  Especially  among  those  who  were  sick  .  .  .       Now,  compare  this  to  the  way  some  Christians   act.  Don’t  some  Christians  approach  the  lost  and   the  needy  the  same  way?       “Yikes!  Sick  people!”       If  you  didn’t  know  better,  you  might  think  that   Jesus’  mission  was  for  Christians  to  form  close-­‐knit   social  groups  that  keep  out  those  people  who  are   different  than  them.  Kind  of  like  a  doctor’s  office   where  no  sick  people  are  allowed.       The  good  news?  There  are  a  ton  of  Christ-­‐followers   who  don’t  see  the  world  this  way  at  all.  Maybe   you’re  one  of  them.  Most  Christ-­‐followers  seek  out   the  lost,  the  outcast,  the  sad,  the  lonely  .  .  .  the   people  who  most  need  to  hear  and  experience  the   love  of  God.  Most  Christ-­‐followers  are  like  the   doctor  who  looks  for  the  sickest  people,  those   most  unable  to  take  care  of  themselves  and  most   in  need  of  a  cure.       That’s  your  challenge.  Look  for  those  people  who   are  the  most  in  need  of  Jesus’  love.  And  be  the   one  who  shows  it  to  them.    

     

Your  devotion  today  is  different  than  previous   days.  It’s  kind  of  an  assignment.  But  it’s  a  cool  one.       Put  this  down,  pick  up  your  Bible  or  Bible  app,  and   read  Matthew  25:31-­‐40.  It  won’t  take  you  long  at   all.       Finished?  Good  .  .  .       When  it’s  all  said  and  done,  don’t  you  want  to  be   able  to  say  that  you  cared  for  those  who  most   needed  it?  Then  stop  goofing  around.  Go  and  do  it.   Today.  Now.  What  are  you  waiting  for?     Seriously  .  .  .  Let  today  be  the  day  that  you  begin  to   make  a  difference  in  the  lives  of  those  who  most   need  it.  It’s  one  of  the  many  ways  God  is  waiting  to   work  through  you.       Let  today  be  the  day  you  begin  to  make  an  impact   on  your  world.    

 

 

Lesson  3,  Devotion  3  

 

Your  devotion  for  today  is  short,  but  powerful.   Take  a  second  and  read  the  quote  below:     “People  will  not  care  what  you  know  until  they   know  that  you  care.”  ⎯  Anonymous     What  is  this  quote  saying?     Do  you  agree  with  it?       It’s  not  that  hard  to  see  the  problem  this  quote   addresses,  is  it?  Too  many  people  say  they  believe   in  Jesus,  and  call  themselves  Christians,  and  yet   their  actions  don’t  back  it  up.  They  don’t  seem  to   demonstrate  the  fruit  that  grows  out  of  a  life  with   Christ  at  the  center.  And  so  we  can’t  blame  people,   particularly  those  who  don’t  know  Jesus,  who  see  

hollow  words  not  backed  up  by  action  and  jump  to   the  conclusion  that  Jesus  isn’t  worth  knowing.     But,  on  the  other  hand,  how  much  more  powerful   our  profession  of  belief  in  Christ  is  when  it  is   accompanied  by  real  compassion  toward  those   who  most  need  Jesus’  love.       Today  and  this  week,  make  it  a  point  to   demonstrate  through  your  actions  the  difference   Jesus  makes  in  your  life.