Compassionate Savior

July 13, 2006

By Greg Ebie

In the spring of 1997 our family packed up and traveled nearly 1,000 miles to Pensacola, Fla., to join in the well-known revival at Brownsville Assembly of God for a few days. We were there as part of one of the pastors’ conferences hosted by the church.

I remember walking out front of the church where people were lining up to get into the service that wouldn’t begin for another six hours. Hundreds of people in line were anticipating God’s presence and power. I learned the line was usually two or three times as long, but people had heard about the pastors’ conference and many stayed home to make room for pastors attending from across the country.

Watching that crowd got me to thinking about the desperate needs of the people who thronged around Jesus during His earthly ministry.

“That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him, the whole city lined up at his door!” (Mark 1:32,33, The Message).

Jesus had gone to the synagogue and had taught with authority. A demon possessed man confronted Jesus in the middle of His teaching; this was no ordinary “church service.” While the crowd was taken back, Jesus simply spoke to the demon and released the man from His torment.

Because it was the Sabbath the people returned to their homes. But when evening came and the Sabbath was over they all went in search of Jesus. When the people found Jesus, they were not disappointed. He cured the sick and cast out demons.

How I long to see people line up by the hundreds and even thousands to experience Jesus and all of His love. Notice I didn’t say I’m waiting for them to line up for church. To tell the truth, people don’t need another “church service.” People need to experience Jesus. Put another way, we don’t need religious activity; we need a relational encounter with God.

That’s my desire and prayer when our church gathers for worship services. I want people to connect with God. Here’s the good news; you don’t have to wait until Sunday to have a personal encounter with Jesus. He can still be found by those who seek Him. You won’t be disappointed either.

D. Greg Ebie is senior pastor of Praise Assembly of God in Garrettsville, Ohio, and an author of Daily Bread devotionals.