TITLE: Do You See Christ ? By Amber Riebe 10/19/07 |
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Look at that boy walking down the street.
Watch him close and tell me what you see.
Do you focus on the sideways hat,
the chains around his neck,
and the baggy pants?
Do you stare in silent alarm
at the piercings in his body
and the tattoos that cover his arms?
Why do you lower your eyes as you walk by?
Does the thought of saving his life cross your mind?
Do you look beyond the surface at the pain in his eyes?
Tell me, when you look at him
do you see Christ?
Further down the way there’s a girl who’s barely dressed.
Her hair is colored black
and pulled back in a dirty mess.
She has nails longer than you’ve ever seen
and under that thick layer of make up
you know she can’t be more than sixteen.
A beat-up dirty backpack; her only possession, is at her feet.
She’s just one of many out working the streets.
What do you think as you walk past her today?
What runs through your mind as you turn the corner and walk away?
Do you view her as too far gone, just a wasted life?
Or, when you look at her,
do you see Christ?
As you turn that corner you hear a familiar cry.
You know it’s that old bum who begs
for money every week when you pass by.
Do you focus only on his toe sticking out from a whole in his shoe?
Do you look away and pretend
not to notice when he calls to you?
Do you only notice his wiry matted beard
and that awful smell as you come near?
You see him tighten his grip on a blanket full of stains and wholes.
You watch as he pulls it tighter around his shoulders,
desperately trying to hide from the cold.
Do you think he is a sorry excuse for a life?
Tell me, when you look at him,
do you see Christ?
You neatly smooth the wrinkles from your shirt
and run to open the door for an older couple at church.
Tell me, with this act of kindness is your heart satisfied?
Are you proud for holding that door opened so wide?
Do you feel fulfilled as you walk inside?
Do you think of your good deed as you slide into the pew?
You seem so happy as you smile
and shake the hands of those around you.
You give full attention to the pastor
as the opening scripture he reads.
As you concentrate on the words
your heart seems to skip a beat….
“Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you
inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these,
you did not do it to me.’” Matt.25:45 NKJ
I challenge you,
next time you pass these people on the street,
look deeper and think about who you really see.
Jesus wants His love to shine into every life.
Look past the outside and focus on Christ.
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