×

Love ‘as you go’

PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

Sidewalks transform into holy ground when Holy Spirit is on the move.

Jesus taught the disciples to share the good news and to love people as they went from place to place. He said, “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10:7-8 NIV

The first three words are powerful. “As you go.” As they went they told people about the Kingdom, and they demonstrated the Kingdom through acts of love. They went out packing heat. Heat called the power of God. They didn’t sit around and wait for people to come to them, they went out and as they went they represented Jesus.

What if, as you went grocery shopping or to the bank or to work, you loved people? What if you actually stopped and talked to people? Don’t wait until you go on a church outreach to love somebody, become an outreach everyday. When you become love, you reach out because it’s who you are and it’s what love does. Love reached out to us when love came down, right? Look at the last few words in the verse, “freely you have received; freely give.”

The other night while heading to the store to get a few things, I saw a man struggling to carry a pretty big bag over his shoulder. I parked my truck and walked up to the man and said, “Hello, how are you?” He was startled at first and kept on moving.

As he was walking away, I asked him if he needed prayer for anything and he stopped in his tracks. He then turned around and we began a conversation. We talked about life and some of its struggles. Then we talked about Jesus and His amazing love for us, and right there on the sidewalk this man got “born again.” He surrendered his life to Jesus and got saved on the sidewalk. We then loaded up his bags, and I gave him a ride home. On the ride home, I encouraged him to begin a prayer life, to spend time in the Word and to get plugged into a church.

He was grateful I stopped, and I was grateful he stopped. I originally stopped because it looked like he needed help with his bags and because of that I found out he also needed Jesus. You know what’s cool about God? He knew that the whole time.

Then I got my groceries.

The Bible says in 1 John 3:8, ” Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

God gives us opportunities everyday to love people and to share His goodness. I pray you have eyes to see those in need, ears to hear their cry for help and a tender, responsive heart that moves you into action. Love somebody “as you go.”

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

¯¯¯

Travis Habbershon is the youth pastor at New Life Church in Burnham.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today