Person 1: “I can’t believe she drinks decaf coffee…”
Person 2: “Yeah, but she’s still a person.”
Person 1: [confused] “What?”
Does that sound stupid to you? Like a completely ridiculous conversation? How does someone drinking their coffee differently from me suddenly make them not a person anymore? That’s dumb, right?
And yet we tend to have those thoughts about people who differ from us in what we consider more important ways.
“She’s a lesbian.”
“He’s a drunk.”
[whispered] “That guy is White/Black/Hispanic/Jewish/Deaf/anImmigrant/Republican/Democrat/Libertarian..."
At what point does a person not count as a person anymore in your eyes? What disqualifies someone from personhood to you? All people are created in the image of God, and deserve to be treated with kindness. All people deserve to be told about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 2:1-6
(1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
(2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
(5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
(6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
There are ways we can minister to those around us that show the love of Christ, and give us opportunities to share the Gospel. But if we are unwilling to do so because we have disqualified them from receiving our compassion, how can we say we are children of God?
1 John 3:17-18
(17) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
(18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
The word ‘good’ in verse 17 means life. And yes, it can mean physical things pertaining to daily living. But more importantly, we have the Word of Life, eternal life, the Gospel. Sometimes it’s obvious when a person has this need, and other times it isn’t so clear. But how can we say we are the children of God if we are withholding His gift from those we think don’t deserve to hear it?
Do we not share because we don’t think they will listen? Because we think they will react in an ugly way toward us? Because we don’t want to be rejected? How selfish is that? We put someone else at risk of missing out on eternal life because of how it might affect US.
It’s like hosting a party, and not inviting someone because we don’t think they will come. We see they’re busy, and instead of sending them an invitation, we decide FOR them that they’re not coming. (Just an fyi, no matter how busy I seem, I want to be invited!!)
We have to let people decide for themselves whether or not they come to the party.
And sometimes we get to send them an invitation by making them a meal. Or by helping clean up their house, or their yard. Or taking care of their children when they have an emergency. Or praying for them when they are facing hard things, and then offering to step in and help carry that burden.
Because the invitation to the party looks like love. Because the Host of the party IS love.
This song by Casting Crowns “If we are the Body” is such a challenge to look beyond myself and reach out in the name and love of Jesus for the sake of the Gospel.
“If we are the Body- why aren't His arms reaching, why aren't His hands healing, why aren't His words teaching? If we are the Body, why aren’t His feet going, why is His love not showing them there is a way? Jesus is the way.”
The song goes on to say:
“Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come..."
Person 2: “Yeah, but she’s still a person.”
Person 1: [confused] “What?”
Does that sound stupid to you? Like a completely ridiculous conversation? How does someone drinking their coffee differently from me suddenly make them not a person anymore? That’s dumb, right?
And yet we tend to have those thoughts about people who differ from us in what we consider more important ways.
“She’s a lesbian.”
“He’s a drunk.”
[whispered] “That guy is White/Black/Hispanic/Jewish/Deaf/anImmigrant/Republican/Democrat/Libertarian..."
At what point does a person not count as a person anymore in your eyes? What disqualifies someone from personhood to you? All people are created in the image of God, and deserve to be treated with kindness. All people deserve to be told about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 2:1-6
(1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
(2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
(5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
(6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
There are ways we can minister to those around us that show the love of Christ, and give us opportunities to share the Gospel. But if we are unwilling to do so because we have disqualified them from receiving our compassion, how can we say we are children of God?
1 John 3:17-18
(17) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
(18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
The word ‘good’ in verse 17 means life. And yes, it can mean physical things pertaining to daily living. But more importantly, we have the Word of Life, eternal life, the Gospel. Sometimes it’s obvious when a person has this need, and other times it isn’t so clear. But how can we say we are the children of God if we are withholding His gift from those we think don’t deserve to hear it?
Do we not share because we don’t think they will listen? Because we think they will react in an ugly way toward us? Because we don’t want to be rejected? How selfish is that? We put someone else at risk of missing out on eternal life because of how it might affect US.
It’s like hosting a party, and not inviting someone because we don’t think they will come. We see they’re busy, and instead of sending them an invitation, we decide FOR them that they’re not coming. (Just an fyi, no matter how busy I seem, I want to be invited!!)
We have to let people decide for themselves whether or not they come to the party.
And sometimes we get to send them an invitation by making them a meal. Or by helping clean up their house, or their yard. Or taking care of their children when they have an emergency. Or praying for them when they are facing hard things, and then offering to step in and help carry that burden.
Because the invitation to the party looks like love. Because the Host of the party IS love.
This song by Casting Crowns “If we are the Body” is such a challenge to look beyond myself and reach out in the name and love of Jesus for the sake of the Gospel.
“If we are the Body- why aren't His arms reaching, why aren't His hands healing, why aren't His words teaching? If we are the Body, why aren’t His feet going, why is His love not showing them there is a way? Jesus is the way.”
The song goes on to say:
“Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come..."
Where might you be today if someone else had deemed you unworthy of hearing the Gospel?
If you don’t know Who Jesus is but you want to, let’s talk. Send me a message. Consider this an invitation to the party.
If you don’t know Who Jesus is but you want to, let’s talk. Send me a message. Consider this an invitation to the party.
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