2018
We look to 2018 and wonder if we should make resolutions or
just go on to the next day. What’s in a
New Year anyway?
What if, instead of making lists of things that we may or
may not do, we just committed to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. What if we committed to live right-side up in
this upside-down world?
What if?
What if we became known as people of truth and love? What if the truth was always in us? What if love was always the vessel through
which truth was delivered? That’s a lot
of what if’s.
Well, here is one more.
What if we called people home like never before? Not because we had a food basket or Christmas
gifts for them, but because they belong in the body of Christ. Inclusion in the body of Christ is so
essential in this disconnected century. Inclusion
is where our connections lead. Connecting
is not the end of the mission. We must
lead people to inclusion in the body of Christ.
Our ministries connect with a lot of people, but we must not
be content to leave them where they are.
Think inclusion more than ever this year.
We still reach out to the lost, but so much of our ministry is
to call home those who once professed Jesus as Lord but decided—for so many
different reasons—not to follow him. They
stopped gathering together. They stopped
serving together. They stopped growing
in grace.
For those of us who have been blessed by God with eyes to
see right-side up in and upside-down world, we must not leave people conformed
to the patterns of this world. Most of
our ministry is not to those who have never heard the words of life, but to
those who did and professed Jesus as their Savior, but don’t live with him as
Lord.
This year that is set before us must be the year of our
greatest discipleship. Let us continue
to grow in grace and serve the Lord as we bring people back into the family of
faith. Let’s manifest our love for one
another by bringing people home.
May God bless you and your discipleship in 2018!
