Incarnational awareness
“Jesus stopped and looked up.”
“In the midst of the cheering, shouting his praises, Jesus stopped and called to him.”
“Knowing they were in the midst of the storm; Jesus went to them.”
In these three accounts Jesus both demonstrated and wielded one of the most powerful tools we can utilize in life and ministry. Each moment involved a person or people not in his view, but off on the edges and out of plain sight. Zacchaeus was up in a tree, Bartimaeus was behind the crowds on the edge of the road, and the disciples were in the middle of the lake. Yet Jesus, was Aware of each one.
Awareness is the quality or state of being aware: knowledge and understanding that something is happening or exists, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Jesus had knowledge of each person, recognized their situation, and responded or moved accordingly. In that awareness he paused his agenda and focused on each one. Jesus did not pass by those moments, but stepped into them and was present in order for them to experience the Gospel. The incarnation is all about awareness. God, being aware of broken humanity, came to creation in order to redeem. Jesus saw the broken and those in need of redemption and went to them. Jesus was in unison with the Holy Spirit during his time on earth and moved accordingly. In Mark, the Holy Spirit even drove Jesus out into the wilderness.
Awareness requires a willingness to look beyond ourselves and what is right in front of us. We must also take action to understand and grow in knowledge of those around us or the situation that we face every day. Incarnational awareness is the act of intentionally going to others and cultivating a knowledge and understanding of them and their situation. Learning and caring for each person that the Spirit prompts us towards. In all honesty, I find myself whining a bit (or a lot) in those moments because I (add a list of excuses…don’t have time, have a different idea, tired…. etc.). Yet, upon being obedient I experience a rush of joy and fulfillment. This is because we were created for those moments of Kingdom work.
Not only must we be aware of others but even more we must be aware of the Holy Spirit. Quieting ourselves more often than not in order to recognize the prompting. Then we must relinquish our own agenda and pride in order to be in unison with the Holy Spirit. We miss out on an abundance of Kingdom celebrations when we ignore the Spirit. Just as Jesus emptied himself and became man, we must empty ourselves so that we can be open to the Spirit.
So, slow down, and look around. Take a moment, pray for a fuller awareness of the Holy Spirit. As you walk, look around, be in tune so that when the Spirit prompts, you pay attention and can move accordingly. While they may not be up in a tree, sitting alongside a road, or in the middle of a storm in a boat, God has someone for you to be aware of and they are waiting to experience the Gospel. Incarnational awareness is our ability to see and go to others.
