Saturday, February 4, 2012


We All Must Show Jesus’ Love

“For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him.” -- Matthew 21:32

There’s a sign that everyone sees as they exit the parking lot of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Montgomery. It says “Now Entering the Mission Field.” I love that sign because it reminds all of us that the world needs to know Jesus and we, His people, are the missionaries appointed to tell them the Good News.

Most of us who call ourselves Christians are good people. Oh, we make mistakes every single day. We fall far short of God’s Glory. We would be lost and without hope if it weren’t for Jesus’ blood washing away our sins. But we try. We do. We want to do good and do the right things.

If we can, we write a check for a worthy cause. We’ll eat a dinner where the proceeds are for something good. We’ll listen to those just back from mission trips and we’ll clap loudly and praise them with our words. We’ll do a great many things for God’s Kingdom -- so long as we don’t have to get dirty.

We want to minister to people like us. We don’t mind taking the occasional casserole to a friend or giving a ride to a neighbor. But we balk at buying a bag of groceries and leaving it anonymously at the doorstep of someone we don’t know who is out of work. We refuse to give a ride to someone who is disabled and lives on the “bad” side of town.

We show up -- but only partway and never with quite a full heart. See we are Christians only to a point. A point that is convenient and nice and comfortable. We let the professionals -- the pastors and missionaries -- take care of the rest. Except in this broken world there are far too many broken people and not nearly enough “professionals” to take care of them and show them God’s love.

Besides, God never meant for only certain people to tell others about Jesus. He didn’t intend for us to horde our possessions, refusing to share with those in need. God never planned for us to be Christians in name only. He expected us to embrace His Son’s heart - the same heart that beats within us when we become Christians - and go out into the world and do good.

Are you living as Jesus lived? Are you loving and caring for those in need, whether they are “like” you or not? Are you reaching out so that others can know the love of a Savior? Is the world around you a better place because you are in it?

When Jesus lives within us, we change. It’s that simple and that complicated. Life can’t go on as it did before. We can’t hold back. We can’t live life comfortably, ignoring the poor, the lost, the sick, the outcasts. We must act because it’s what Jesus would do.

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