Devo Week 1

Finding Jesus Among the Neglected - The Nearness of God

Jesus is at work all around you. Do you see Him? He's ready to be encountered within your context, right where you are. His presence, when encountered, in any location creates a crossroad of decision. There, genuine followers become worshipers of Jesus who cause the glory of God to fill the earth!

Key Concept: A Near-sighted Approach of the Gospel℠

Correct vision is seeing with clarity both near and far. For a complete understanding of the life of Jesus, both near-sighted and far-sighted approaches of the Gospel are necessary. Without both, many are prone to think that Jesus is only Western and/or Christianity is only a Western religion. Simeon’s prophecy of the Messiah coming as a light of revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of His people Israel lays the groundwork for both near-sighted and far-sighted presentations of the Gospel. (Luke 2:29-32)

A near-sighted approach of the Gospel℠ is the concept I coined to explain what we were experiencing among the Akha and Akeu. Like most ancient and oral people groups, they had no history or knowledge of Israel which created a huge gap in their understanding of the Gospel. Taking only a far-sighted approach, by sharing the testimony of Jesus from the Jewish covenant and culture, positions the Gospel too far out of sight for them.

So, we began viewing the Gospel as well as the whole of Scripture from their perspective. How would they see Jesus? How would the Good News impact them? What symbols, rituals and metaphors help make the Gospel come alive to them? They needed to see Jesus up-close and personal, within their own setting, just as other people groups in the New Testament had, like the Samaritan and Syrophoenician women, the Gadarene demoniac, and the Roman centurion, to name a few.

Paul, who was a Jew called as an apostle to the Gentiles, revealed God as both God of the Jews and the Gentiles. (Romans 3:29) He exhorted that God made all nations from one man and is not far from each one of us. Going forward, we must do a better job at teaching the truth that all nations are made in the image of God. Having a near-sighted approach of the Gospel℠ helps bring Jesus into focus within each language and culture.

Key Word Definition: Visual Acuity (noun)

-- refers to how sharp or clear your vision is.

Excerpt from Devotional 1 with highlighted word:

“When the Apostle Paul, referring to all nations, said, ‘God is not far from each one of us,’ that is a good place to start! Indeed, God is near to all peoples! This is why we need 'near-sighted' approaches with the Gospel. Having visual acuity means we see with clarity both near and far. Unfortunately, our approaches have been primarily 'far-sighted,' not learning the language and culture well enough to see Him among them. As a result, many times our approaches have not revealed a nearby Jesus, but rather a faraway Jesus, importing foreign ways and structures.”

Scripture: Acts 17: 26-27

“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” (NIV)