God’s Valentine for you!
Happy Valentine’s Day! Jesus loves you!
To Reach Others, Love Others.
This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Everyone Outreach! (WATCH HERE)
I remember as a kid growing up periodically going with my parents and guests to our home to tour parts of San Francisco (I grew up in that area). As we would walk along Fisherman’s Wharf (or other tourist parts of town), we would encounter different street artists doing their music or their “living statue” work looking for a few dollars in their donation tin. Usually scattered in the tourists and street artists were what I would call “Modern John the Baptists.” Usually, these individuals were sporting a long scraggly beard and unkempt hair, ragged clothes, and a sign in front of them that said, “Repent, the Kingdom of God is near!” This would often be combined with a portable speaker to broadcast words of condemnation of sin and the impending judgment of God.
To this day, I am curious if anyone will be in heaven because of this “witness” approach. While people would stand and watch other street artists, I only observed myself, parents and others passing by quickly past the street preacher and seeming to ignore his message.
While I can’t necessarily say the message was not theologically correct or perhaps even needed on the hearts of all who passed by, the approach didn’t seem to be resonating with anyone I noticed in the area (Again, my encounter was very brief.)
But perhaps this is the “picture” of evangelism that we sometimes carry, thinking we have to have the bold, in-your-face, condemning sin, confrontational message to bring to people.
To be sure, this courage was admirable and to be honest, probably a boldness we could all admire.
But I wonder if there is another approach…One that would more easily win the trust of a person and the heart for Jesus? Perhaps an approach that would better win an audience for the Gospel is one built on the love we have been shown in Christ.
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
This is not a love that overlooks sin or is never willing to speak the truth of God’s law to the heart of an individual. (Love is always willing to point out what is spiritually dangerous.) This is love that shows genuine care and concern for another. This is love that is willing to move out of our comfort zone to engage people that are different than us. This is love that is willing to give time when time is at a premium. This is love that is willing to serve others when your to-do list is long. This is love that is willing to see every person as one for whom Jesus lived, died and rose again. This is love that simply reflects the heart of God who loved the world and sent Jesus for the world.
Love that reflects the love of Jesus builds a bridge to a soul that doesn’t know Jesus.
To reach others, love others.
Apply: Ask God to open your heart and eyes to see opportunities to love others today with the love of Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me so much that you did all for me to spend eternity with you. Lead me and help me to love others with the same kind of love to open doors to share your love with them. AMEN.
Who? Me?
This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Everyone Outreach! (WATCH HERE)
Who me?
This past weekend our congregation was blessed to have Pastor Eric Roecker lead us in a workshop called Everyone Outreach. The goal of the weekend, which I believe was certainly achieved, was to help every participant realize the privilege and opportunities we have to connect people to or directly share the love of Jesus with people.
The weekend was very personal as we were challenged to consider our personal role and opportunity to bring Jesus to people, evaluate our paradigms of our fears or resistant to change, and form personal “I will” statements that, with God’s help, we take a step to be better at and be more intentional about sharing Jesus with people.
But that means I have to see myself as part of the mission team.
A common thought for those of us who are part of the church is, “That’s the pastor’s job” or “My church does outreach.” Unfortunately, I/we often deflect the sharing of Jesus to someone else or to our church. But here’s the reality. When more of us are being intentional about sharing Jesus, the more people get to hear about Jesus. If just one or a few people are working at it, fewer bridges are built to the hearts of people who need Jesus. But we all can and get to be part of it.
Here’s one small verse from Acts 8:4
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
What happened in the early church is persecution arose around the city of Jerusalem. For their own safety, many Christians left the area. But they didn’t leave their Savior. Wherever they went, they talked about Jesus. The scattering could have been seen as sign to be quiet, but rather it was the opportunity to meet more people and connect more people to Jesus. Satan thought he was putting the lid on Christianity, but rather his persecution was causing the explosion of Christianity in the areas around Jerusalem.
What was fun to see in our workshop is individuals beginning to think of little ways they could share Jesus in their areas. One gentleman, who helps with our church outreach events, quipped, “I helped all day, but didn’t have one conversation about faith. Perhaps I could bring it up with the parents as they wait for their kids in the bounce house.”
Wherever we are, we can have opportunities to share our faith.
It got me thinking…even I can sometimes carry the mindset that someone else will do it. I’m the pastor, so I just need to focus on getting a sermon together and helping others talk about their faith. Nope. God has called me to find opportunities to build bridges to people and from people to Jesus.
So perhaps this morning and this week, I invite you to consider the opportunities that God has put around you and ask, “What one small thing could I do that could build a bridge to someone who needs Jesus and what is one small thing I could do to help build a bridge from that person to Jesus?”
Together, God can use all of us to reach others.
Apply: What is one small thing you can do today to connect someone to Jesus?
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for the opportunity to be part of your kingdom and part of your kingdom work. Forgive us for the times we deflected the opportunity to share you. Give us courage to work and witness for you! AMEN.
People take time…so move on!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of the Series “Fresh Start” – I Meet New People! (WATCH HERE)
Sometime you just have to move on.
We have all had relationships in the past that we no longer have in the present. Those you dated before the one you married…at some point you decided to move on. An employer that paid you one of your first paychecks…at some point you decided to move on.
Various reasons lead us to end relationships or strike out for a new job. But it’s not always easy. Those tough decisions probably came with a lot of anxiety and nervousness.
Unless you are clear on your values and purpose.
Ministry is full of relationships beginning and ending. People decide to join a church and people decide to leave. Sometimes you spend a lot of time, energy, and conversations to keep someone from leaving. But when you reflect back on the situation, it probably didn’t always matter how much time you spent, they had made their mind up for one reason or another.
Another reason one moves on from relationships is not that the relationship has ended, but that there are more relationships to get to. Politicians don’t spend all their time in one state…they spend time and then move on to convince voters in another state. Sales people move to the next neighborhood even though they hadn’t spoken to in the previous neighborhood. Teachers can’t spend their whole day instructing one student, they have to address a question, but then move on.
Jesus decided to move on from Capernaum. (Mark 1:36-39)
36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
The people in Capernaum would see him again, but not that day. He could have spent a lot of time in Capernaum, but his mission compelled him to move on to other nearby villages. Why? More people needed exposure to the Gospel.
Jesus’ decision to move on didn’t mean he didn’t care for the people of Capernaum, he just also cared for people in the neighboring villages. It is ok for the sake of the Gospel to move on from one conversation or relationship for the sake of reaching others with the Gospel. Sometimes the decision is easy because they reject Jesus, but other times we feel compelled to stay and meet every need.
It’s ok, take time with people to bring the Gospel to them and then feel comfortable moving on to others who also need the Gospel.
As a side note, this passage has been the theme of our South Central District Mission Board to keep us looking for opportunities to establish churches and ministries. The established churches are important…but so is bringing the Gospel to new communities.
People are all around you…enjoy the opportunities God leads you to…and then be ready to move on when he opens a new door!
Apply: Is there a relationship that has taken a lot of your time? Is God opening a door for a Gospel conversation somewhere else? How might Jesus’ activity give you encouragement?
Prayer: Lord thank you for the countless opportunities to share the Gospel. Give me the discernment to know which one to leverage and which ones to move on from to new ones. AMEN.
People take time…so take a break!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of the Series “Fresh Start” – I Meet New People! (WATCH HERE)
Mark 1:35-37 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
After a full day teaching in the synagogue, healing Simon’s mother-in-law and then taking on the diseases and demons of the town, Jesus needed rest. He slept to physically recharge and then before everyone got up he went and found a quiet place to spend time with his Father in prayer. Jesus knew the importance of recharging physically and spiritually. Without the time alone, time in prayer, and time to sleep he knew that he would not be able to love and serve the people around him.
The same is true for us. Introvert or extrovert, when we are around people and seeking to care for them, we need time for rest, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. If we don’t, we run into trouble. Psychologists have noticed a challenge for people who forget or don’t take time to care for themselves. It’s called “compassion fatigue.”
“…compassion fatigue refers to the experience of any empathetic individual who is acutely conscious of societal needs but feels helpless to solve them. People who actively engage in charity, or volunteering, may come to feel that they cannot commit any more energy, time, or money to the plight of others because they feel overwhelmed or paralyzed by pleas for support and that the world’s challenges are never-ending.
Symptoms of compassion fatigue can include exhaustion, disrupted sleep, anxiety, headaches, stomach upset, irritability, numbness, a decreased sense of purpose, emotional disconnection, self-contempt, and difficulties with personal relationships.” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/compassion-fatigue)
Before psychologists observed and documented “compassion fatigue”, God knew and Jesus reinforced and modeled the need for spiritual and physical rest. God built it into the rhythm of the week by resting himself on the seventh day of the world’s existence and directing his people to follow that pattern:
Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Jesus, who was the fulfillment of the Sabbath Day invited, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).
To better be able to love, care, and invest in people, make sure to take time to love, care, and invest in yourself by spending time in prayer to your heavenly Father and in the words of your Savior Jesus.
Apply: How can you rest spiritually and physically?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for investing your life in caring for people and securing our salvation. Along the way you also taught and modeled the example of taking time to rest physically and spiritually so we can have the energy and strength of faith to invest in others’ lives. AMEN.