Daily Devotional: Friday, Nov 13
Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: A Dangerous Church
Weekend Music links on iTunes: Majestic by Lincoln Brewster; Hosanna by Paul Baloche; The Stand by Hillsong; Desert Song by Hillsong.
Read: Matthew 28:16-20; John 4:39-42
Think: We have been looking at the four components of being a ‘dangerous church' from last weekend's message. The last one is that every follower of Christ has a mission.
In our reading today we see followers of Christ spreading the news about Him. God loves everyone and wants to reach all people not just those who attend somewhere on a Sunday and He is counting on His followers to do this.
This has always daunted me! I am no Billy Graham, able to speak with confidence to thousands of people at a time. Thankfully God has not called all of us to that. Like the woman at the well we are all able to talk to those in our daily lives and share the difference following God has made. We are also able to make church a welcoming place regardless of someone's background, appearance or finances. When we do so, we not only show the newcomers a place of safety and acceptance, but we also support those who invited them. The Great Commission could have sounded like a job description to reach the world but for the Samaritan woman at the well it was an overflowing of her heart to a few people. We are all called to be missionaries of God's love at home or abroad, to family, friends or strangers.
When my children were younger I described Heaven as like a party. Everyone is invited and wants to share it with people they love but if you don't pass the invitations out and let people reply they can't get in. Let's make sure we pass the invitation Jesus has sent out to the world and make it easy for others to RSVP to Him.
Do: Look for an opportunity to share with someone about a blessing you have received from God. Share your joy with them in a low key way (no hitting them with a Bible!) Whether that person knows God or is still searching, it will be a blessing to them and you!
Pray: Dear Lord we ask for your strength and wisdom as we share about You with the people in our lives. You know the hearts of those listening and we ask that You would soften those hearts and let them have ears to hear Your truth. Help us see those who are reaching for You and provide them with a safe place full of love and acceptance where they can encounter You in a real way. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church. |
