IN THE MARKET PLACE

IN THE MARKET PLACE




2,000 years ago
In Jesus' time
The market place was
WHERE the action was


People gathered there
To buy their daily bread
MEET their neighbors
And LEARN
The latest news


TODAY
It isn't much different
We go to the mall
To shopping centers
To office buildings
And to
The world wide web


2,000 years ago
WHEN word got around
That a great healer
Was coming
The market place
Was buzzing with excitement and HOPE


“And wherever he went
Into villages-towns-or countrysides
They placed the sick
In the market places


They begged him
To let them touch
Even the edge
Of his cloak
And ALL who touched him
Were HEALED” Mark 6:56


WE are called
To be Christ's representatives
In the world today


And as his representative
THOUGH we can't physically heal
As Christ did


When we get
The latest news
In the neighborhood
At the mall
About who is sick
Or who has died


We can let those in need
KNOW WE CARE
By stopping to visit
Running an errand for them
Or even
Just sending a card


Letting someone you care about
Know that they
Are not alone
MIGHT be just enough
To keep them going


“Be shepherd's
Of God's flock
That is
Under your care


SERVING as overseers
NOT because you must
But because
You are WILLING
As God
Wants you to be


NOT greedy for money
But EAGER to serve
Not lording it over
Those entrusted to you
But being examples
To the flock” 2 Peter 5:2-3


And hurting people today
CONTINUE to gather in these places
Searching for something true
BEYOND noise and confusion


And there are three things
That everyone of us
Can do
For a hurting person


We can say something light
In good taste
To make them smile
Or laugh


We can LISTEN to them
Talk about their troubles


And we can let them KNOW
That we care about them
That we LOVE them now
MORE than ever


Dear Lord-WE PRAY
That those we meet today
WHO are in need


MAY EXPERIENCE
The PRESENCE OF JESUS
Through us


Robert P. Wallman
2-10-14




ps Inspired by an article in LIVINF FAITH by Steve Givens