Seeing Upside Down

In light of the Ebola outbreak and subsequent fear-mongering across the United States, a Dallas-area pastor has been noted for his continual prayers for those stricken with the fatal disease. Father Jim Khoi, Nina Pham's pastor, has communicated with her mother and is asking for prayers via Skype. Her condition is steadily improving as a result of not only a transfusion of plasma from a Texas physician who has survived the disease but also through the power of prayer. Many mission-based churches specialize in visiting homes for AIDS and Ebola patients still exist in addition to the state and federal prison ministries. Among the downtrodden, the wretched - the rejected of this world - God's kingdom takes root most firmly.

Taking God's assignment for our lives means we must look at the world upside down, as Jesus did. While it is easier - and often, naturally more gratifying - to seek out those who can do us favors with their abundance of resources, we should open our eyes to find those who are lacking what we have. Instead of the strong, we look for the weak; instead of the healthy, the sick. Rather than associating ourselves solely with the spiritual, visit the sinful. Is this not how God reconciles the world to Himself? In Matthew 9:12, Jesus heard them and answered, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do."

To hammer home the point, today's Ebola patients are the lepers from Jesus's era. These lepers were quarantined to isolation to prevent widespread infection of the disease among the population, and as a result were ostracized. Yet Jesus found the time to associate Himself with the lepers, signifying they were truly no lesser than those with clear skin. Imagine the Jews' reaction once they were healed! That could be likened to the American Christian's response after the early cases were vaccinated.

See the world upside down, as Jesus did. Don't waste your time with the 20% when the 80% have a greater need of you.