We must meet people where they are!

We must meet people where they are!

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.  I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne.” (Rev 3: 20-21).  

“ Scholars believe what Jesus means in this passage is that he wants to come into our hearts and have an intimate, conventional relationship with us.”  A quote from Jessica Brodie, journalist.

How often we might hear these words and wonder why he has chosen us, the weakest of his creatures, to promise a time where we shall find a humble man who is God reaching into our own sinfulness.   

The apostles and the other disciples were living in fear of the Jews after Jesus was nailed to the Cross, suffered, died, and then buried.  All they could think about and clinging to each other’s pain went into hiding, imagining each strange sound might be their arrest and death as well.  What is the next surprise that they may encounter that none of them would not be ready to accept?  Then out of nowhere, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  (Jn 20: 19 - 20).

This elation is exact;y what and how the Lord reaches out to us.  Not in a locked room but nevertheless in a surprising manner that might catch us off guard, but just as astounding.  These can be the very life-giving moments when none of us is expecting these grace filled visits from Chrisr.

He absolutely searches our hearts and finds a need that must be addressed, touches the malady, in most cases, sin, and begins a healing process that only his Spirit can and will become the physician we’re looking for.  The woman caught in adultery was ready to be stoned and the doctor of souls was there at the moment of decision.  Her shame, the Pharisees accusation, and the judge who justly settled the case.  Jesus met this woman where she was! (Jn 8: 1 - 11).

Moses had a specific trend to speak directly with God and relied upon his Lord’s directions to continue leading the Hebrews out of Egypt to the promised land.  When the Lord gave instructions to the building of the Ark, Moses listened to the exactness of God’s instructions.  “This propitiatory you shall then place on top of the ark.  In the ark itself you are to put the commandments which I will give you.  There I will meet you and there, from above the propitiatory, between the two cherubim on the ark of the commandments, I will tell you all the commands that I wish you to give the Israelites.  (Ex 25: 21 - 22).  This is an event not too far removed from how the Lord may reach out to us as a way of expanding his kingdom.  We may respond with, “How does the Lord expect me to do such and such?”  However, God met Moses where he always was even in his journey.  He may not have understood his mission regarding the ark but accepted God’s wishes.  The woman caught in adultery and the Pharisees ready to kill her were also being met by Jesus right where they stood.  We too, may be in sin or accusing another with the intent to threaten them, the Lord will always meet us wherever we are.

Ralph B. Hathaway