The Indwelling Christ

I am thinking today about the second stanza of the great hymn, “All Praise to Thee.” The words remind us of the life and work of Jesus.

Thou camest to us in lowliness of thought;
By Thee the outcast and the poor were sought;
And by The death was God’s salvation wrought;
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Do we seek the outcast and the poor? Do we continue the work of Christ as we walk each day in a broken world? Do we show Christ’s compassion to every person? Do we do these things by the way we live our lives?

I have for many years considered thoughtfully these words written by Joseph Clower in his book, The Church in the Thought of Jesus. Though he speaks of the Church and her ministry, I also hear his words as a compelling personal call to live my life as a follower of Christ in the world.

If the indwelling Christ is not confined, then the Church’s eyes flow with His tears, her heart moved with His compassion, her hands are coarsened with His labor, her feet are wearied with his walking among all people.

May this be said of us.