Lazarus the story continues

“When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.”

John 12:9&10 NLT

This scripture was part of the message of a teacher on my truck radio this morning. His message was about Mary, but this scripture just hit me for another context. The events of recent weeks & the desperate plight of refugees. How the plot to snuff all evidence of lives raised up from eternal death to life in Christ is still active today. And not just the believers but anyone with the aroma of hope because of a more Christ influenced society. 

Have you ever met a refugee? Did you know that some of your neighbors may have been? Do you think they are someone else’s problem & responsibility?

We may soon have opportunities to help a number of these desperate folks in our community. So I’m processing In my mind what their experience will be like here?What will be my own effort to help? As a community church leader should I be encouraging others? 

“So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭10:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:34-36‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:40‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The US has always been a place of hope for immigrants & refugees. I guess the question I have is, will it also continue to be a place where the Love of Jesus is experienced.