Bringing Men to Jesus

 Thought For Today - January 12
 BRINGING MEN TO JESUS
By: Robert A. Searles
 
 “From whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the Lord.” The Lord is an ever present help in the time of trouble. There are many people in our society who are in some sort of trouble and need help. Some are sick; some are insane; many have been neglected, or short changed by their church, and many have neglected to seek the help of the church to find their source of help. The helpless - the blind - the sick - the doubters - the sinful - the sorrowful need to find the answer to the problems of life that we all must face .

 Those of us who have discovered our source of help in time of necessity and trouble, have a responsibility and obligation to help those who are in desperate need. We know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the answer to all our problems if we will go to him and trust him, but many others need to know this also. How can they know if we do not tell them? How will they find the one who can help them if we do not lead them to him? Multitudes sought Jesus when he was on earth. They knew that he was the great physician, and had the power of healing in himself.

 “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those who were possessed with devils and those who were lunatic, and those that had the palsy and he healed them.” Math 4:24.

 Depression and mental illness has claimed a lot of victims and destroyed many lives, and drawn many to seek the help of drugs and the occult. Many go to fortune tellers and stargazers and mediums to find answers to their problems. Many may be possessed with evil spirits today even as they were in Jesus time. We must seize every opportunity to lead these people to Jesus who alone can give peace of mind, and joy and stability to one’s life.

 “As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil, and when the devil was cast out the dumb spake and the multitude marveled, saying, it was never so seen in Israel.” Math 9:32, 33.

 Many people have sought help from churches and preachers who have taught false doctrines. They have been misled into thinking that the social gospel is the answer to their problems. They have been taught to believe that if they are zealous of good works and try hard to live a good life, that all will be well and everyone will enjoy the blessing of paradise; but only to learn that these churches and preachers have failed them in the end.. We need to tell the multitudes of disappointed church members that the answer is in the person of Jesus Christ alone. Some came to the apostles to receive healing but they could not help them, but when they came to Jesus all was well.

 “And one of the multitude answered and said, master I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and whensoever he taketh him, he teareth him; and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away; and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out, and they could not. He ansereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him, and straightway the spirit tare him, and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.” Mark 9: 17-20

 When we see our fellow human beings in a state of helplessness, whether it be spiritual or physical, we need to step in and do something to help. The first need of any helpless person is the need of salvation: the forgiveness of sin, which is followed by a clean conscience and assurance of heaven.,. Only Christ can forgive sins and grant salvation. We need to introduce the helpless to him, and if necessary, break down walls and barriers to get them to him.: We need to follow the example of those who brought the man who was sick of the palsy to Jesus:

 “And behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with palsy: and they sought means to bring him in and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his coach into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith he saith unto him, man thy sins are forgiven thee." Luke 5: 18-20.

 Oh! So many blind people in the world today, whose eyes have been covered with the scales of false teaching and false beliefs. They cannot see clearly the truth of the wondrous gospel of God’s love and forgiveness. If those who are so blinded, just for a moment could catch a glimpse of the truth of God’s word, they would jump up and proclaim as did the writer of that wonderful hymn: “Amazing Grace” “Once I was blind, but now I see, once I was lost, but now I am found.” 

The apostle Paul said: “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to those who are blind.” Only Jesus has the power to restore sight to the blind. We need to bring the blind to Jesus. “And it came to pass, that as he came nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant, and they told him that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace, but he cried so much the more, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come he asked him, saying, what wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him. Receive thy sight. Thy faith hath saved thee.” Luke 18: 35-42.

 Those in our midst who are seeking and searching for right answers to the question of life and eternity need to be pointed in the right direction by those of us who have found our way.. “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him was Andrew, Simion Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, we have found the Messiah, which is being interpreted the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, thou art simon, the son of Jonas: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone.” John 1: 40-42.

 When we attempt to bring men and women to Christ, we will always find that there will be doubters who question the authority of the bible, and will pose all kinds of questions and arguments to oppose that which we are trying to share with them, but when they encounter Jesus, their doubts will all be dissolved as with Nathaniel. “Philip findeth Nathaniel, and saith unto him, we have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and prophets did write. Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathaniel said unto him, can there be any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, come and see. Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him, and saith of him, behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile. Nathaniel saith unto him, whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree I saw thee. Nathaniel answered and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art the son of God, thou art the King of Israel.” John 1: 45-49

 We must point sinners to Christ. Once we were sinners without hope in the world, but Jesus found us, and drew us to himself. He gave us the faith to believe. When we called , he answered and paid the price for our sinfulness and redeemed us. It is our duty to have compassion on the lost and bring them to Jesus, who alone can forgive sins, save souls and comforts the sorrowing. 

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
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