"Lighting the Fire"
Jotting – Week 30

God Sends Us

St. Paul wrote:

“Though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

Am I so concerned about the souls of others that I “become like them” to win them for Christ? Do I become poor so the poor will listen? Or do I continue to live in my “expected life style” and expect the poor to still be won to the Gospel? ...

Do I speak with golden words and flowing, flowery phrases, but have no love for those to whom I speak–nor concern for their eternal life? Then I am only making noise.

Are my words so lofty, my knowledge so great, my intelligence so superior, my faith strong enough to move mountains, but forget that people who listen to my revelations, my interpretations, my speeches need love–my love and God’s love through me? Then I am no more than a blank sheet of paper.

Do I give away my surplus–even all that supplies my own needs; do I sacrifice myself in long hours of work and deprive myself of food and sleep to meet others’ needs but do it without loving them and letting them know it is God’s love that inspires and motivates me? Then it all adds up to nothing.

Do I suffer without complaint, rejoice in others’ joys, encourage and lift others up? Or do I stand in judgement on those whose skin color, culture, economic circumstances, clothing or hair styles are different from mine–and thus withhold my love–and God’s love from them?

Do I put others before myself, seek the good of those around me, take everything with a sense of love and therefore think only lovingly of others? Or do I promote myself, put myself in the number one spot, begrudge others’ blessings and gifts and put them down whenever opportunity arises? Do I pray for others to know Jesus as Savior or do I only pray for God to take them out of my sight?

Do I rejoice in that which is good and pure and upright and holy, or do I snicker at evil, watching that which is against God’s law of love in order to be “entertained”and thus fill my head with blasphemies, unholiness and wickedness–and thus acceptance of such behavior?

Do I bear all things for the sake of the Gospel and the love of souls–rudeness of others, mockery, disdain, hatred, persecution, laughter, scorn, exclusion? Or do I hide my light under a bushel so that I might be acceptable to all people or be one of the “in” group?

Do I truly believe that Jesus has come for all people–even those who live next door, across the street, and around the corner, even those whose office or desk is next to mine, even those who don’t want to know they are loved, even those whose body odors or clothing or culture practices offend my senses?

Do I hope for heaven–for myself and my family, for my neighbor and those who sit in the darkness of sin, whose light has grown dim or has never been lit?

Do I endure persecutions, laughter, uneasiness, rudeness, the agony of illness, the pain of loneliness, inclement weather, the trials of travel–for love of others? Do I give up some of my “earthly pleasures” so others might enjoy heavenly treasures?

God’s love never fails. He wants my love to endure. He wants to give me His love for all people so that I might become all things to all people in order to win some for His Kingdom.

God knows me. He knows my weaknesses and strengths, He knows my sins and my shortcomings. He knows–and still He loves me and uses me for His purpose–sending me out to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others in love.

I am no longer a child, behaving childishly and wanting my own way in everything. I can’t see God’s whole plan for my life laid out in bright color. I can only know that He wants me to live in His will, to do what He asks, to love all people so that they too might enjoy heaven with their Savior–living eternity in love.

Pray: Oh, how much You love us, dear Father. You willingly gave up Your only Son to live as one of us–to become like us so that we might be saved for an eternity with You.  Forgive us, Father, for our selfishness, our unloveliness and our unwillingness to love others as You love them. Jesus, You are our perfect example of love. Teach our hearts to love You, and in loving You to love others. Give us Your heart of love for them so that we might become as they–in order to bring the Gospel to them. Prepare their hearts to hear Your Word of grace. Send us out in love with love for those for whom You died. In Your holy and precious name we pray. Amen.