What a great challenge from our pastor this week to move Beyond Ourselves and to love and share the good news about Jesus with the hurting and unlovely people that cross our paths. How have you done? Have you helped someone in pain? Have you been obedient to Jesus command to "Go and make disciples?" Maybe that seems a bit radical (by the way that's how Jesus lived), here's an easier question, have you even prayed this week for a non-believer in your life?
This week I was watching a video by Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love, the new book our Life Groups will begin reading. In that video he referenced the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The Samaritan man was traveling and came across a man who had been beaten up. The story even tells us that two other guys, both religious men who knew the story of God's love, traveled separately ahead of the Samaritan. These religious men passed by the wounded man because he was an outcast and it would have been socially unacceptable. The Samaritan, not thinking of himself, stopped and gave aid to the man above and beyond what was simply needed or required. Jesus uses this parable to teach us the answer to the question, "Who is my neighbor?"
So who is your neighbor? People in your path.
Jesus said "As you go make disciples." As you go on your path of life, Jesus has placed people on your path who need to experience and hear the love of Jesus. Your path is full of people who are weak, hurting, mourning, angry, wounded, devastated, poor, odd, or socially awkward. You know people who are unloveable, unlikeable, unacceptable, and unloved. You know kids who live in poverty, who don't have a dad, or long for a hug from a mom. You know single parents who are hurting, marriages that are failing, or people who are abused. They ARE on your path. Do you see them?
Will you be like the religious men who passed by? Will you be self focused?
or
Will you be like Jesus? Who loves people as they are. Will you love them, and shared with them the great mercies of his grace.
My prayer is that you will devote yourself to being obedient to King Jesus. Is there any other way to live?!
May God's Spirit empower you to love others this week,
Patrick
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