In For Them

God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles… Galatians 1:15-16

There is an entire wing of the Christian Library of Theology devoted to being “in Christ” or “Christ in me.” I wonder sometimes if we forget the purpose of indwelling Christ. As Paul said, the Son is revealed in us so that we might preach him. If Christ lives in us we should begin in some small way to reflect His character and His heart.

“36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”” Matthew 9

Consider this, when Jesus looked at the unsaved people of his day he saw their sin and their lost state, but he was not moved to disgust nor did his turn his eyes away, he instead was moved to compassion “because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Someone in the  sinful state is indeed harassed and helpless.” Jesus is concerned not that the lost would not come to God, but that the workers would not go to them.

Growing up it seemed that most people I knew were Christians and, if not, at least believed that following Jesus was the proper course, even if not followed. The lost, in those days, were mostly far away in places like darkest Africa. Instead of piercing the darkness, it seems we have allowed the darkness to spread so that now it is at our doorsteps and in some cases in our homes.

We know that scripture tells us that the end will be dark, but that’s no excuse to hide our lights or bury our salt. In these days, like no other in my lifetime, it’s easy to go into the harvest field. We don’t need a passport or air fare. Sometimes we just need to walk our neighborhood. The purpose of Christ in side is to have his compassion for the lost and not just disdain for their sin. If we aren’t “going” maybe we are fooling ourselves about His presence in us.