Look to the Left.

Look to the Right.

Stop Moving and Step Forward.

Look to the Back.

Lift up Our Eyes and Look to the Front.

We may ask all the right questions:

Why are we even pausing to look? &

What are we looking to see? &

Where should we look? &

When must we look? &

Who are we seeking to help?

Quite possibly, we may not be aware of the WHY, the WHAT, the WHERE, the WHEN, or even the WHO—–until God presses us into service.  Our calendars for today may be filled with meetings to attend, papers to grade, things to do, places to go, people to see.    We may even think our day is just “too full” for even one more thing.

God knows the Why. God knows the What we will be called to do. God knows the Where we will be called to serve. God knows the When we will be most needed. & God even knows the Who we need to serve. Quite assuredly, God has placed us Exactly In This Moment, For Exactly This Task!!!

Our Excuses are so many.

***Tomorrow God—Then I will have time.

***On Friday—-When I get paid—Then God.

***At the End of the Month—March is just too full, maybe April, God. Yes then God.

***Next Year. Yes—–2022, surely Then, when less is on my plate.

***When I retire—-That’s when, God.

***Ask me—Then—When I am not so busy making a living.

Our Excuses, yes, we have them.

Our Calendars—-Yes, they are filled with Our to-do Lists; and Our Wallets & Bank Accounts—-Yes, they seem to belong to us because it is Our Name on the account; and Our Vehicles—-Yes, they also do seem to sit inside Our Garages.

Surely God would NOT have me do that task.

Surely God would NOT want me to put my hands to help that person.

Surely God would NOT want me to go there.

Surely God…….Would NOT ask THAT of me, But God Does Ask ALL of Us to BE WILLING to SERVE OTHERS in HIS NAME.

Matthew. Mark. Luke. Three of the four Gospels record a task that was suddenly pressed upon a man (without warning) to do.

All four Gospels include the historical account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ

Historical.    Factual.    Real.    The TRUTH.

THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST REALLY HAPPENED!!!

No one doubts the event. Some may choose to believe the lies of the devil—that the resurrection back to life of Jesus is not real, but Satan is the Father of lies.
&
GOD IS THE FATHER OF PROMISES KEPT.

Three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) list the man’s name—–Simon of Cyrene.

Two Gospels list where the man called his home——the country.

One Gospel tells he was a father——two sons.

All three Gospels mention who gave this man his task—-they—(the Roman soldiers)—–charged with the task of crucifying Jesus.

Three of the Four Gospels specifically record this man’ required assignment—–bear for Jesus, His cross.  &

Each of these three Gospels record the object Simon carried—-Jesus’ cross. &

ALL THREE TELL WHO Simon carried the CROSS for—–JESUS CHRIST.

“As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross”   (Matthew 27: 32).
“They pressed into service a passerby coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross (Mark 15: 21).
“When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus”   (Luke 23:  26).

Maybe we have—other plans.

Maybe we are not even looking to help others.

Maybe we think we are Not even skilled in a particular area to help another.

Maybe we have our own issues to attend to, our own agendas.

Maybe our family’s past is not from the most important “in” crowd.

Maybe our funds to help others are nonexistent. 

Maybe.     Maybe.      Maybe.

Excuses.  We can come up with so many reasons to NOT HELP & to NOT SERVE.

Simon of Cyrene May Have Not been in Jerusalem to see the crucifixion of Jesus, That Day.

Simon of Cyrene May Have just been caught up in the frenzy of the crowd, That Day.

Simon of Cyrene May Have been astounded, sickened, and even repulsed by the torture, the scourging, and by the disfigurement of Jesus, That Day.

Simon of Cyrene May Have found Jesus’ cross awkward to bear in front of everyone, That Day.

Simon  of Cyrene May Have even been really scared to help, That Day.

Simon of Cyrene May Have been so grateful and so humbled that he was asked, That Day. &. Maybe

Simon Could Have wished he had hidden within the large crowd and another person had been asked to carry the cross of Jesus, That Day.

We are Not told what Simon of Cyrene THOUGHT as he carried the cross of Jesus, BUT We are told that Simon was “pressed” into the situation. &. We are just told that Simon obeyed. &. We are just told in three different Gospel accounts that Simon of Cyrene bore a burden for Jesus That Day.

WE ARE TOLD (3x) how this Simon of Cyrene CARRIED THE CROSS of JESUS UP CALVARY’S HILL.

Today, may we be so willing to obey God’s will for our day.

Today, may we be willing to lift up another’s burden.

Today, may we watch for opportunities when we can say, “Yes, God, I will.” Today, let us not hesitate to do—-whatever God leads us to do.
Today, let us be willing.

WHY?
Because…..We should never forget.

****God knew what torture His Son Jesus would endure for EACH of US.

****God knew how Jesus would suffer for OUR multitude of sins.

****God knew Jesus’ death and resurrection was required so Jesus could make a Way for Us to Know God.

****God knew we could never do enough (of any task, of any works) to pay the cost.

****GOD KNEW. YES, GOD KNEW THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY. &

****GOD STILL KNOWS (TODAY) WHO NEEDS OUR OBEDIENCE, OUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.

****May our lack of obedience NEVER stand in the way of another coming to know Jesus as LORD.
Yes, most definitely, God does know who needs us today.

May God find us willing…….