Drawn

Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 

Matthew 15:30 NIV

Everywhere Jesus went, He drew a crowd. It didn't matter where He went. By the sea, they crowded Him into a boat. In the Temple, on the mountain, and even when He tried to get away into the countryside by Himself, they flocked to Him and He took pity on them. Jesus healed all their diseases and wound up feeding thousands.

What do you think drew them to Jesus? His love? His compassion? His miracles? Wanting to see the supernatural? Were they looking for answers? Relief from their personal suffering? Probably all of those things. And more than likely, there were those who were just following the crowd. 

Not all of them loved Him. Not all of them believed He was the Messiah, the only begotten Son of God. And yet, He ministered to all of them. He loved all of them. He healed them.

What drew us to Christ? Truly TO Him and not just hanging around Him. Do we still have the fervor of our first love with Him? If not, why not? If not, let's ask the Holy Spirit to expose whatever it is that has caused the separation. Let God's Word - His living Word - be established in our lives. Jeremiah 24:7 NIV, I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. 

If we have Jesus living large in us, can others see His love and His compassion in us? Are we pointing them to the Cross and His saving grace and mercy? We might not draw a crowd, but are we drawing those within our sphere of influence? 

Prayer:

Father,

          According to Your Word, Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen