As I was driving yesterday, the radio broadcasted a story about Billy Graham’s Rapid Response Team sending out chaplains to show love to the lost. Their mission is to offer emotional and spiritual care after the recent attacks in Belgium. Naturally, many of us would respond differently. Rather than rushing out and putting our own lives at risk…we play it safe. Keep it comfortable. Huddle up here at home.
The light turned red and as I sat waiting in traffic, the Holy Spirit started to convict me. I’m sure these chaplains are leaving their families and the comforts of home to travel to uncharted territory. Leading by example to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Whatever the cost. Wherever He leads. They are willing to give up everything to show love to the lost.
Being completely honest, I’d rather stay on the couch.
Reading my Bible.
Hanging out in my comfort zone.
But that’s not what Jesus would do.
The Gospel is meant to infiltrate our hearts and impact our actions.
We can stay comfortable, surrounded by friends, and stacking up toys. Talk about Jesus in our safe zones. Memorize Scripture and play it cool. Faithfully attend church and sing a chorus or two. Or…we can take our faith one step deeper to go & do. If our faith is genuine, it impacts all areas of our lives.
There are lost people smack dab in front of us without crossing the voyage blue. As we idly watch the decline of Christianity, is it because we have forgotten our roots? You see, Jesus He gave it His all, putting everything out on the line. Rather than enjoying the life of a royal, He “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7).” Laid it all down. From glory to lowly.
God’s Word instructs us to love others as Jesus loves us (John 15:12). I don’t know about you–but that sounds impossible. Looking at the example of Jesus, we see him enter this world in poverty. A babe lying in swaddling clothes, not even a place to lay his head. The son of a carpenter…and ending with a humiliating death on the cross. By analyzing his life with worldly eyes, there is nothing that bestows a King. Jesus utterly breaks our conception of how we ought to live. He is constantly thinking about what is best for YOU. Do you realize that He was God and He didn’t have to?
What if we begin by “emptying ourselves” from everything we think we should be. The things we think we should have. The people we assume we should envy. The places we dream we should go to. And instead, allow God to fill this vacancy with His thoughts and intentions. I wonder where God would send us?
“Prayer is the difference between seeing with our physical eyes and seeing with our spiritual eyes.”
― Mark Batterson, Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge
In closing today, I challenge you to start thinking about how to show love to the lost. What does it look like to be the hands and feet of Jesus in your neighborhood? workplace? and family? Rather than entering a room with an air of greatness, what would it look like to make yourself small? To act as a servant rather than a king…
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
How are you showing love to the lost? I would love to hear your ideas!!!
Ouch! The Lord is working on me about this one alot recently.
Thank you.
Such a good reminder of what our place truly is. Though we are the children of the King, our work is to be His servants. Thank you. – Amy –
http://www.stylingrannymama.com
God is definitely working on me on this one 🙂
Wow – what a wonderful word and challenging! I need to come up higher – thanks for the reminder… I need to get out of my comfort zone a little bit more….
God (and my husband) have been nudging me about this. With my three young boys it’s so much easier to sit behind a computer screen and share God than it is to actually get up and go and SHOW God.
But we aren’t called to be convenient. So somethings got to give.
Love this article!
Beautiful post and reminder on the one voice we should focus on following!
This was very well written, and I could not agree more about emptying ourselves. It is the irony that makes us fulfilled!