“The Outsider”

The other day I was in a situation where I felt like an outsider. I started to think what that felt like and what other times where people feel like an outsider. When we were young we had many opportunities to feel like an outsider. Maybe we were picked last or our so called friends went to the football game without us. Maybe you are alone and at the holidays, when so many are getting together with their families, and you don’t have anywhere to go. Or the past has caused your present to be something other than what you thought it should be. Maybe you are not in the click. Maybe you are the only one in your family saved. Maybe you have been left out of an event that you really wanted to be apart of. You simple felt like an outsider.

There are many situations in the Bible that show how Jesus handled so called outsiders.

John 4 talks about the woman at the well. vs 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

She said how is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a women of Samaria? Jews had nothing to do with samaritans. She was an outsider. But I love verse 4, It says that Jesus must needs go through Samaria. He went that way on purpose, just for this women. He knew she would be there. He knew just what to say to her and what she needed. But when the disciples came they said, “Why talkest thou with her?”. How many times do we make others feel like outsiders??? But That did not matter to Jesus. Her life was changed that day because Jesus came. You are not an outsider when Jesus touches your life. Then she went and told others and many were saved because of her testimony.

Another story comes to mind.

Matthew 20:29-30 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

These two blind men were on the outside. But they did not let that stop them when Jesus was passing by. They cried out loud, but those around them tried to get them to be quit. They rebuked them and told them to hold their peace. Oh let us not be like the multitude who told them to be quit. Let us be like those blind men and cry out, WE NO LONGER WANT TO BE OUTSIDERS. JESUS HEAL US... Jesus had compassion on them and they received their sight. Oh praise God! Jesus will heal your hurts and pains. He will touch those things that make you feel like an outsider. He will not listen to the multitude. The blind men were not blind no more, they received their sight and they followed Him... Oh praise God!!

Another women in Matthew 9 had an issue of blood. She was not suppose to go into the public. She was considered unclean. There are so many people on the outside that are unclean. But she came behind Jesus and touched the hem of his garment and she was healed. No longer an outsider!!!

What about the lepers? Outsiders? Healed!!! Praise God. The poor? The lame? The lonely? The lost? What makes you feel like an outsider?

There are many, many, many stories where Jesus went out of His way to touch the outsiders. He healed them, touched them, changed them and then they were no longer outsiders.

Sin makes us an outsider. Others try to make us an outsider. Satan tries to tells us we are outsiders. We make ourselves outsiders.

Jesus says “Come unto me...”

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world...

You were one who was on the outside. While you were on the outside, Jesus died for you. You were without hope and without God.

But now because of what Jesus did at Calvary you can be on the inside looking out. Now you are apart of the family of God. You must believe what he did for you and receive what He did. No longer are you an outsider. Don’t let others make you feel that way. Don’t listen to the lies of Satan.

My prayer for you:

Ephesians 3:14-23

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

That you may know Him and be apart of the family of God. You don’t have to be an outsider!!!!