RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE!
FROM Luke 4:18-19 we read these words…”The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV)
RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE! This past Sunday I lost my glasses, so I thought. The worship service time was getting close and I’d needed them while preaching. I routinely place them on my desk in my study or in my coat pocket when not using them, but they weren’t there. I started retracing my steps from earlier that morning. I looked everywhere I’d been, including my truck, but no glasses. I went back to my study to look around again. As I sat down at my desk, I finally found them. Where were they? I had hooked them between the top buttons of my shirt! I had been looking all over for them and all that time they were right under my nose! 😳 Maybe you are laughing at me right now because you know you’ve done something very similar. You just wouldn’t tell anybody like I just did! 😁
WHAT’S RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE? A better question would be …WHO is right under your nose? Do you ever wonder, “Who should I spend my life helping?” If you’re a follower of Jesus, the answer is simple: Live your life focused on the same people Jesus was focused on. When He was just starting His public ministry, Jesus stood up in His local synagogue and read our text for today. It’s a passage of Scripture from the Old Testament. That passage explained what Jesus’ ministry was all about: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD” (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV). These verses tell about people all around us, right under our noses, who desperately need our help! Jesus wants you and me to spend our lives focusing on the same kinds of people He did. So let’s look back at these verses and see the five types of people Jesus came to help—the same people He wants you to help too. First, Jesus helped the poor—which can mean many different things. Some people experience material poverty; they don’t have enough money to provide for their basic needs. Others are poor morally, not knowing or caring about the difference between right and wrong. And others are spiritually poor; they don’t know that Jesus died for their sins and wants to spend eternity with them in heaven. Second, Jesus also came for the brokenhearted. Hearts break for all kinds of reasons—including disappointment, rejection, and resentment. But the Bible promises, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18 NIV).
Third, Jesus came for the imprisoned—both those in literal, physical prisons and people in prisons of addiction, ignorance, and fear. He came proclaiming freedom for them—and that’s what he wants you to do too.
Fourth, Jesus came for the blind. Millions of people are physically blind—which can be a major challenge in any person’s life. But Jesus also cares about things like relational and spiritual blindness, where people don’t have strong relationships with each other or with God. Finally, Jesus came for the oppressed. Our world is full of people who are kicked around, taken advantage of, and put down. Countless people are affected by things like abuse and neglect, and even the spiritual oppression of demons. Jesus offered liberty to these people—and that’s what he expects from you too.
THINK ABOUT IT! The poor, the brokenhearted, the imprisoned, the blind, and the oppressed. These are the people Jesus cared for—and they’re who he wants you to care for too. Think about your own time, money, and relationships. What kind of concern does your life show for the poor, brokenhearted, imprisoned, blind, and oppressed? What needs to shift in your life to help you develop a heart for the same people Jesus cared for? Jesus lived, died on the cross, arose again the third day and ascended to heaven. But after He ascended, His new body on this earth became the church! Who are those around you every day, RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE, that need you to be the hands, the feet, the mouth and the heart of Jesus on behalf of? He could touch them today through you! Think it over…🙏