It seems like there is not a day that goes by that God doesn't show me someone that needs reached out to. Someone who has been hurt or nearly destroyed by the enemy and the sinful world around them. And I know I am not the only Christian who experiences this. There are so many hurt and confused people all around us. Some walk around with it bottled up and some are just looking for anyone who will listen to them. And as Christ followers we have the answers they seek. The answers are not wrapped up in some self help speech or some government program...but in the complete surrender to Jesus Christ. Giving Him the power in their life to get them through and out of the situation they so hate.
The bottom line is...we ALL need Jesus. There are not some days that we need Him worse than others...we need Him every minute of every hour of every day. When we allow Him to flow through us, when we put away the selfish desires that consume us, when we realize the enemy tries to bring so many things in our lives to distract us so we will walk right past the people in need...when we realize these things, we will begin to fulfill our purpose in life. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We are THE way that word of His love gets out to those who don't know Him. We pray for people and we ask God to move in their life, for God to reveal Himself to them....but do we stop long enough to say I might be the way that is going to happen. I go to a church where I watch many people reach out to others, cry out for the city they live in and intercede for those being impacted by the sin around them. I love the passion in their hearts when we come together to pray for our community. But I also watch too many other Christians leave that up to "the others". Please don't! Please ask God what is your part. Ask Him what more you can do that you are not doing yet. The message of God's love IS powerful enough to change even the hardest heart, but only if they hear it. Let people see God's word at work in our lives before they ever hear it come out of our mouths. Matthew 5:13-16 talks about how our lives should be like salt to the earth. (salt preserves and makes things better!) How we should be light until the world. (light that overcomes the darkness) And how our good deeds should be seen by all. Not so we can get recognition for the things that are done, but so God can get the glory. So we can SHOW the world His love!
As Christians we MUST carry God's joy inside of us. If we ever want people to want what we have then what we have has to look better than their struggles, their sins and even their false happiness that the enemy deceives them with. That is where truth trumps lies every time. When you share the story of God's grace, His mercy and His love...the story of Him sacrificing His own Son so someone could be forgiven and set free, it is almost impossible for someone to stare into the eyes of that truth and love and turn it away. Sure I know that some do reject....but we still have to be sowers of the seed. We can't let those who reject us discourage us to the point that we stop trying.
Today I want to encourage you to think about Jesus as He was placed on the cross. He stretched out His hands to be nailed to a cross. He knew He would be rejected and yet He still stretched out His hands for this world. Let that be motivation to stretch out your hand and help someone as well. It may be someone that you have seen receive help 15 other times, but maybe, just maybe this 16th time will be the one that changes their life. God may call you to reach out to someone who you know will reject your words, but at least when you share the seed is getting planted. When God calls you to reach out to someone please realize that there just might be a reason He has placed this call on you. You might be the person that can get on their level in a way that no one ever has. It might be you that helps change that persons life forever!
God, thank You for the undeserving grace and mercy that you show us. Please help us not become self righteous in that, but take the righteousness that Jesus offers and offer it to the rest of the world. Holy Spirit help us set aside our judgement of people and just reach out to them. And please help every seed we sow take root and grow in the hearts of those who so desperately need you. In Jesus name, Amen
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