Hosea 12-14
Revelation 4
“A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
As we read Scripture, we will find that Jesus was not particularly welcomed. He was opposed by the devil, opposed by the demons, opposed by the egos that wanted to suppress Him but exalted by false motives that wanted to crown Him with earthly crowns. What He did and said was unexpected and often misunderstood, amazing and often offending His audience. In some ways, Jesus was a little bit like a “guerilla fighter” or a “Guerilla Priest” in a sense where He was someone on the fringes, opposed by the established religious orders. His allegiance was to the King of heaven and earth, and He came preaching that the kingdom of God is here.
In a modern-day context, I (Farzam Mohajer) met a “guerilla priest” once when I was involved in an outreach that goes to the street to reach homeless men and women, where almost all of them were addicted to a street drug. I would go visit these men and women, listen to their stories and take them food. My friend Ryan signed up to join me, and he would come with this little basin. And, before I knew it, as we were doing our outreach and handing out food, Ryan was on his knees washing feet, cutting toenails and dressing wounds from missed injections. We were on a busy street. Every other person had a needle sticking out of their arm, and the whole street just paused. Everyone sort of gasped for air as Ryan’s gesture was so foreign, and beyond how we would define helping people. I remember thinking to myself, “Ryan, come on, man. We can pray with these guys, maybe give them a peanut butter sandwich, but please don’t wash their feet.”
Then, one day, as Ryan was washing someone’s wounds, he was mistaken by the municipal police as a homeless guy and they beat him. Later, we went to the police station to issue a complaint, but as we came back, I realized that this was the sign of a “guerilla priest.” A sign that someone serves a King that is not of this world, and their gesture of grace had them partake even in the suffering of those they are reaching.
As Christians, we are called to represent a different King. Jesus tells us, “...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28). His kingdom is one where the ones who desire to be first are servants to all.
Dear Jesus, thank You for demonstrating servant leadership. Help me to represent Your kingdom in serving others radically.
Revelation 4
“A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
As we read Scripture, we will find that Jesus was not particularly welcomed. He was opposed by the devil, opposed by the demons, opposed by the egos that wanted to suppress Him but exalted by false motives that wanted to crown Him with earthly crowns. What He did and said was unexpected and often misunderstood, amazing and often offending His audience. In some ways, Jesus was a little bit like a “guerilla fighter” or a “Guerilla Priest” in a sense where He was someone on the fringes, opposed by the established religious orders. His allegiance was to the King of heaven and earth, and He came preaching that the kingdom of God is here.
In a modern-day context, I (Farzam Mohajer) met a “guerilla priest” once when I was involved in an outreach that goes to the street to reach homeless men and women, where almost all of them were addicted to a street drug. I would go visit these men and women, listen to their stories and take them food. My friend Ryan signed up to join me, and he would come with this little basin. And, before I knew it, as we were doing our outreach and handing out food, Ryan was on his knees washing feet, cutting toenails and dressing wounds from missed injections. We were on a busy street. Every other person had a needle sticking out of their arm, and the whole street just paused. Everyone sort of gasped for air as Ryan’s gesture was so foreign, and beyond how we would define helping people. I remember thinking to myself, “Ryan, come on, man. We can pray with these guys, maybe give them a peanut butter sandwich, but please don’t wash their feet.”
Then, one day, as Ryan was washing someone’s wounds, he was mistaken by the municipal police as a homeless guy and they beat him. Later, we went to the police station to issue a complaint, but as we came back, I realized that this was the sign of a “guerilla priest.” A sign that someone serves a King that is not of this world, and their gesture of grace had them partake even in the suffering of those they are reaching.
As Christians, we are called to represent a different King. Jesus tells us, “...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28). His kingdom is one where the ones who desire to be first are servants to all.
Dear Jesus, thank You for demonstrating servant leadership. Help me to represent Your kingdom in serving others radically.
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