Jesus To The World

NewSong's “Jesus To The World” is a challenge to put compassion into action. The first verse paints two pictures: a hungry little girl who prays for something to eat and a single mother who is doing all she can and ends up on the street. The song asks whether the listener will see the need, glance at the watch and walk on by, or stop and take the time to be Jesus in their lives.

The chorus says what is needed. We need to be lambs that roar and eagles that soar, to be salt and light, and to be Jesus to the world. It adds that love should be taken into the streets, that believers should be willing to turn the other cheek, and that they should be both strong and weak. The second verse points to Jesus himself, who came with a message that would change the way people live, showed by example what the heart of heaven is, saw our need, heard our cry and gave his life. His sacrifice teaches how his followers should live. The rock arrangement and group vocals give it a driving feel, and the concrete examples keep it from sounding abstract. It fits a mission trip send-off, a food drive or a sermon on mercy, and it asks each listener to answer on their own street.

Serving the hungry as serving Christ is Matthew 25:35-40. Loving in deed and truth is 1 John 3:18, and being salt and light is Matthew 5:14-16.