15 Jun LOVE = REACH Day 5
In Chapter 2 of the book, Love Does, by Bob Goff he explains a friendship with a guy named Doug who always had a fresh, new approach to life that was refreshing. Sometimes the uniqueness of Doug meant Bob would get shot in the stomach by a pellet gun just for fun. Doug lived for adventure and he was the first to introduce Bob Goff to Jesus, by describing Him as a man of adventure.
READ (1 Corinthians 1:7-9 MSG)
“Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.”
Bob Goff describes his image of Jesus in Chapter 2 of his book, Love Does:
“To me, Jesus sounded like an ordinary guy who was utterly amazing. He helped people. He figured out what they really needed and tried to point them toward that. He healed people who were hurting. He spent time with the kinds of people most of us spend our lives avoiding. It didn’t seem to matter to Jesus who these people were because He was all about engagement.”
I grew up in a wonderful home with a family who took me to church consistently. We loved Jesus. We prayed. We served in the church, doing whatever was needed. My parents helped others in need in a way I could see. However, I must realize that what my parents did is not enough to get me where I need to be.
The church as a whole will have to be more adventurous in the times we live. We will have to go where people are. We will have to set our opinions and beliefs aside and go be a friend to sinner. We will have to adventure ourselves to get out of the walls of the church and respond to those in need, to serve our community even when they don’t embrace us, and to be creative with how we love. Our message will not change, but as it has been said: our methods must change. We must refuse to just let attending church be all we need to fulfill our Christianity checklist.
Think for a moment about the people that Jesus asked to be his followers, the people he prayed for, the people he healed. Prostitutes, murderers, educated people, uneducated people, fishermen, thieves, sick, and the blind were all in close contact with Jesus. Let us have the same list of associations. I hope when we look back 20-years from now at Lake Hills that we have people with tattered pasts who are present because someone lead an adventurous life and decided to share Jesus with them. We must go outside of ourselves to REACH those who need Him the most. Fully Live! Fully reach! Fully love!
ACT:
Continue reading Love Does, by Bob Goff
Give us a comment on facebook if you have read or are reading the devotional or book with us.
REACH:
Invite someone to the Interest Meeting this week (Thursday, June 16th) who doesn’t have a church or who has been facing a difficult time. Private message or text us if you have someone attending with you and we will be praying for them!