Sharing God's love
As I have been writing for the past week about God's love, I have mentioned a couple of times now about how many times we as Christians struggle with showing God's love. I mean, let's be honest, I would consider myself an "empowered evangelical" and evangelical Christianity is not known typically for it's love and the sad part is that Jesus did not say... "you will be known by the amount of people you tell about me"... or did he say, "you will be known by the amount of programs, ministries or other stuff you do in my name." Jesus said that the world will know that we are his followers by the way we loved other people.
This love does not include some sappy, kumbaya, hippy love either. In 1 John 3:16, it talks about laying down our lives for others. In our Western culture, that is very hard for us because we are selfish. Even before the current economic crisis started last year, we as Christians are just as selfish as those that do not follow Jesus. Know there may be some of you that can't wait to say... how about the amount of giving that Christians did for Katrina victims? Yes, Christian organizations have given more than any other non-governmental group to Katrina relief & recovery.
But what about the neighbor that lives across the street from you right now? Have you given to that person? You see if we are following the model of Jesus, then we are to share the love of Jesus with our neighbors. In 1 John 3:17, it says that if we have the material possessions to do something about a need... then we are suppose to have compassion, mercy, pity on them. Why is it that we as American Christians, it is so hard for us to share the abundance that we have. I know that it is hard during these economic times when so many of our families have had to cut back, are doing with less, but let's be honest... even if you are a family of four and make $22,050 a year [which is the Federal govt. poverty line] then you are in the TOP 10.71% of the richest people in the WORLD!
The majority of us make more than $22,050 a year... and we have the ability to share God's love with those in need right in our own neighborhoods. But why don't we often? Is it because we are to0 wrapped up in our own needs? Our own wants & desires? Is it selfishness on our part?
There are neighbors that have needs... needs that you, your church, your small group can help meet... there are neighbors that need to experience the love of God in some tangible way. Do your neighbors know that you are a Christian because you have laid down your wants, needs & desires to go out of your way to help them? Have you showed the love of God, by helping to meet the needs of those around you?
I really like what The Message version of the Bible says of 1 John 3:17... it says that if we don't help to meet their needs... then we help to make God's love disappear. Just think, the next time we know of a need and do nothing about it... then you, we, me... make God's love disappear.
My brothers & sisters, what are you doing to share God's love with those that live up the street, as well as around the world?
In today's world, let's be honest, words are cheap... people judge us by our actions. The Apostle John tells us that our words do not show love... but it is by our actions. What are you doing today to share the love of God with those around you?
Check this out on my blog... http://luke4church.com/2009/10/18/sharing-gods-love/
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