Day 28, Be: Responsible

We must never shy away from the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, “for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16)

Read: Matthew 9:35-38 & Matthew 25

Ask Yourself & Journal:

•  When was the last time that you introduced someone to Jesus and what He’s done for you?

I told myself when I started to do these blog entries for this Core Issues series that I needed to be as transparent and honest as possible if I expected anyone else to 1) get anything out of this process and 2) see that transparency within the body of Christ is OK.  So with that in mind I’ve got to answer this honestly.  I don’t know if I’ve ever personally introduced anyone to Jesus.  Yes, my life may say I’m a Christian: I work at a church, I talk about church, and I occasionally bring up spiritual issues in conversation, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a heart to heart with someone about who I believe Jesus to be and what I believe he can do for them.  He’s done A LOT for me.  I shouldn’t have a problem telling people about how awesome he is.  And I’m sorry… me teaching bible studies or leading discussions at Communitas does not count.  I think too many times we count our “safe” activities (i.e. things we do in a church environment) as part of “living” our Christian lives.  The purpose of gathering as the church is to be equipped to live my life outside of the four walls of church buildings as a credible witness for Christ.

•  In your life, list tangible examples of what it means to (1) preach the gospel to the poor, (2) heal the broken-hearted, (3) proclaim liberty to the captives, (4) restore the blind, and (5) set the oppressed free. (see Luke 4:18-19)

Out of these five things I believe the only one I’ve lived out is number two: healing the broken-hearted.  I believe since I’ve gone through my own share of heartbreak, having my heart broken and breaking the hearts of others, I have been able to relate and reach out to people in similar situations.  The other four I find lacking in my life.  Ministry to the poor has been absent in my life.  Proclaiming liberty to the captives, too.  Hopefully, some on number four and five, restoring the blind and setting the oppressed free has happened during conversations at Communitas when we discuss the beauty of what God’s truth can accomplish in our lives.

•  Have you made it your personal responsibility to live out these works of mercy in your own world? If not, how can you resolve to start living out the gospel of Christ?

I do not believe I have.  Maybe that’s why I have such a personal conviction to integrate social action into Communitas.  Because it’s absent in my own life.  Please, don’t think I’m beating myself up over this stuff.  I believe there’s a distinct difference between shame and conviction.  Perhaps, such I have such difficulty integrating “works of mercy” as part of my personal life, that creating opportunities to do so in a community environment will give me the courage to make it not only a responsibility, but a normal, everyday part of the life Jesus has gifted me with.

Listen & Pray:  JESUS my LORD, sometimes I’m caught in an embarrassing moment or awkward situation and wonder why my friends didn’t warn me.  There is a lost, broken and hurting world all around me, and I have the answer in You.  The eternities of those around me are at stake.  If I don’t take responsibility to tell them about you, will they in the end of all things ask me why I didn’t tell them about you?

Day 27, Be: A Memorable

More than any words, program or doctrine, it’s our very life that speaks the loudest.

Read: James 3:13-18

Ask Yourself & Journal:

•  Describe the ways in which your everyday life effectively preaches the gospel.

EVERYTHING in my life affects how the gospel is “preached.”  I don’t get to pick and choose what part of my life tells a story of God to other people.  But this question is in what ways does my life preach the gospel effectively.  I hope one of the ways my life is effective is my honesty.  More specifically, I’m honest that as a Christian I don’t know everything.  In James 3: 13 it says to live in good conduct by “the meekness of wisdom” and verse 14 says to “not boast and be false to the truth.”  Not only do I need to be honest with God and myself about my shortcomings, I need to be honest about them with the people around me.  Even though I have an ability to work things in my life out with God and I, if I’m not open about those things with the people in my life then I run the danger as coming across as somebody who thinks I’m perfect, arrogant, or to proud of myself.  None of these characteristics give any glory to the work Jesus has done in my life.  I should daily strive to, “for the sake of Christ, then, [be] content with [my] weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  More specifically when people can see my weaknesses, they can see His strength.

 

•  Think about some people in your life today. 25 years from now, what do you think they will say about the impact you had on their lives?

I’m not to sure how to answer this.  I’ll answer it by talking about people from my past.  Over 15 years ago I moved, with my family, from the state of Louisiana back to Texas.  While I was glad to be back in Texas there were friendships formed in Louisiana that have had a lasting effect on who I am spiritually today.  I think of people, besides my immediate family, like Jason Diezman, Michelle Elliot, Jim & Kathy Girouard, and others who lived their walks with Christ in their own unique way and each way teaching me what it was to walk with Jesus, what it meant to have passion, what it was to doubt, what it meant to struggle, and what it meant to trust God regardless.  Even though I’m the best person to stay in touch with old friends it doesn’t change the effect they’ve had on me.  I hope my effect on others is the same, not for my benefit, but for the benefit of their relationship with Christ.

•  If your life were a sermon, what would be the title of your message?

Right now it would be, “Once You Get to Know Him, He’s Not That Bad a Guy.”  Not a very flattering sermon title.  ‘Cause even though you may get to like me once I let you in, this sermon title shows I need to work on my 1st impressions and my general way I carry myself around people.  I can come across as too serious, not friendly, not talkative, and generally someone you want to avoid.  Not a good vibe… not a good witness.

Listen & Pray: JESUS my STORY, this new life you have given me speaks louder than 1,000 sermons—and can speak to generations after I have come and gone. I pray for the attitude and determination to allow the example of my life to do more “witnessing” than my mouth. I want to show Your goodness and my devotion to You without ever having to preach a word.

Day 26, Be: A Solution

The Spirit of the Lord is upon us to enable us to reach out beyond ourselves and to help others.

Read: James 1:16-27 and 2:14-26

Ask Yourself & Journal:

•  What do these scriptures show us about true Christianity?

That faith apart from works isn’t even faith at all.  This should be a huge wake up call to anyone saying they have “faith” in Jesus Christ.  James is saying that faith is evident in ones work and that they cannot be separated.  The evidence of the transforming work of Christ is changes me.  If that change is not evident in my life, James calls the validity of that persons faith into question.  How is it possible for someone to have faith in Jesus and not have good works.  It’s not.  We must be careful to not accept a “faith” that is akin to merely adopting Christianity as one of hundreds of life systems available to the mind of man.

•  Can you identify the major needs in your community?

First, and foremost the need of any community is to spread the Good News of the freedom Jesus has purchased for us all.  But, San Antonio has many needs.  Food insecurity, teen pregnancy, school-dropouts, human trafficking, and homelessness are all important needs in San Antonio.  I would consider food insecurity the biggest issue in San Antonio.  Consider these statistics posted on the San Antonio Food Bank website:

• Texas is the second most food insecure state in the nation. Defined, food insecurity is when you are so limited in resources to buy food that you are running out of food, reducing the quality of food that your family eats, feeding your children unbalanced diets, or skipping meals so your children can eat. 17.1 % of Texas’ population is food insecure. U.S. Census—2009 Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates
• 5.7% of Texas’ population experience hunger on a regular basis – more than one million people.
  USDA/Economic Research Service
• The rate of children living in poverty in Texas is 24.3%; the national rate is 20.0%. In Bexar County, that rate is 25.1% – that means that one in four children most likely struggle with food insecurity. USDA/Economic Research Service, U.S. Census—2009 Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates
• Each week, approximately 58,000 people receive emergency food assistance from an agency in the San Antonio Food Bank network. Hunger in America 2010: San Antonio and Southwest Texas

•  What can you do to make yourself more aware of the needs of the people who live on the other side of the world?

I think the key part of this question is “make yourself more aware.”  Watch the news, read the paper (online or old school papers), follow organizations on Twitter and Facebook, see what charities, ministries, and organizations your church supports.  I believe there really is no excuse for being un-informed and ill-informed about issues in the world today.  I don’t want to be the person in James 1:22-24.

• How can you help your friends to not only be more aware of the needs in the world but also to mobilize them to do something about it?

I recently read an article that talked about the dangers of compassion fatigue.  I’ve read this generation is probably the most cause oriented generation that the world has ever seen.  And with the danger of too much of anything is being desensitized to it.  I believe involving your friends and neighbors with local causes helps them connect with issues around the world.  And in order to get others involved I’m going to need to do the majority of the work first.  I can give as many impassioned speeches as I want but if my passion is empty of action then how can I expect others to get involved.

Listen & Pray: JESUS my ANSWER, what would the world look like if I, alongside all of your family, considered the personal responsibility given by You to make a difference in Your world.  You asked us be as little children and children view the world with hope and possibilities.  I am Your child.  I am blessed by you to be a blessing to others.