There is a sign in my town right now that says this:
“Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”
From the moment I read it, it bugged me. I didn’t instinctively know why, but I just knew deep within me, it wasn’t accurate.
I drove by this sign every day so every day I read it and felt a “nope” in my spirit about it.
It wouldn’t quit pestering me so I sat down and took time for a chat with Holy Spirit about it.
When I asked Him why the sign bothered me so much, His reply was, “Because you’re not a beggar, you’re a Prince.”
Instantly I understood and it rang with Truth in my spirit in a deep way. I now knew why that sign bugged me. It’s an incorrect perspective on who we are in Jesus.
For me personally, a large part of my life has been a struggle because I didn’t know who I was in Jesus. I grew up in church, but it was an extremely legalistic denomination and it left me feeling like I would never be good enough for God and I was unworthy of His affection.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
I am worthy of God’s affection and all the good things He has for me, not based on my own works or worthiness but because of Jesus and His sacrifice on my behalf.
The Bible calls us some pretty amazing names, Children of God, Brethren, Royal Priests, Co-heirs with Christ, Beloved and Bride just to name a few. It also describes us Chosen and Dearly Loved, among many other wonderful descriptions.
In none of those descriptions, and that’s just a meager list of all the possibilities in the Bible, do I sense in the very least ANY tone of “beggar”. Somehow, I just know that Jesus doesn’t look at us and see beggars. He looks at us and sees Beloved Royalty, Sons, Daughters and Co-heirs with Him. He isn’t up there in Heaven shaking His head at us wondering when we will finally get it right. Rather, He is within us – strengthening us to walk with Him.
Knowing that FACT makes evangelism exciting! It helps me realize that evangelism is not about begging, its about rejoicing and sharing this crazy love with others which makes it truly Good News!
If I were to rewrite that quote from the sign, I would write it this way:
“Evangelism is One Prince, inviting another Prince, yet unaware, into a Marvelous Kingdom.”
Hello!! Now THAT is Some Good News! If I’m hungry and suffering and someone points me to a meal, I’m grateful, for sure. But if I’m hungry and suffering and someone comes and Crowns me Prince, as my unknown Birthright, my life is Never The Same.
Imagine if you were homeless and someone walked up to you and said, “There are riches and inheritance available to you beyond anything you could ever ask or imagine.” Would you be excited or would you walk away in disbelief? I’d like to say that everyone would get excited but unfortunately many do walk away in disbelief. Many see the pain of religious legalism and “to do” lists and feel like they could never keep up with all they must do to be “worthy of saving.”
They are right and they are wrong. There is nothing we can do to be worthy of saving. The fact that you and I are alive makes us worthy. They are also right they could not keep up with “to do” lists to keep their salvation. But they wrongly think they need to do things to keep their salvation.
Jesus asks nothing more of us than to open the door to His knocking and invite Him in for dinner. He knocks on the door, we open it and He comes in to dine with us. Does it say He came laden with groceries so He could prepare a meal, nope?! It says He dines with us, which, to me, means we immediately have gifts to offer Him. But the amazing part is the rest is still on Him, not you!
These gifts we have were placed in us before the Foundation of the World and He wants to enjoy them with us. He wants to revel in us walking in the gifts He gave us. He wants to shine through us. He’s a Proud Papa that Dances with JOY over us as He watches us Grow and Learn and come fully into His Unique Design for each of us.
That’s incredible and empowering Good News!! It brings me out from under anything else and sets my feet firmly on Jesus. It doesn’t mean I don’t have any more struggles but it means that I know who to take those struggles to, helps me remember it’s all temporary and it gives me the Hope and Faith to Rise Above It.
On the flip side, if I see myself as a beggar, I continue to walk in a lowly place. I think nothing of striving every day and living hand to mouth. So I struggle and I think “Oh well, that’s how life goes, things will never change, I’ll always struggle”
If I get “evangelized” but maintain that beggar mentality, my thought changes, but not by much. In my “Christian beggardom” the thought becomes, “Oh well, that’s how life goes, things will never change, I’ll always struggle, but at least I guess God Loves me.”
Ugh and Yuck! Not at all like Jesus described what our Father has for us:
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matt 7:9-11
Allowing His love to flow into your heart and mind changes who you are. You are not a beggar that meagerly runs to other beggars to tell them where to find one meal. Rather you are a royal child, sharing the abundance of the feast to all who will listen with the confidence that there is enough to feed you, and them, for a lifetime.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s possession, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Pet 2:9
It’s time we realize we ARE Royalty because of what Jesus did and that His Work Was Complete, as in “It Is Finished”. Now we get to say YES to Him and enjoy the Abundance of His Kingdom as we walk with Him along the way.
So, shake off your Beggardom and Come Walk as the Royalty you ARE through Jesus!!
PS. You look GOOD in that Royal Robe! 😉
PamelaInTraining 