September has begun; a new church program year begins!
Sunday school, Bible studies, community events, so many things to participate in
I can hardly fit it into all the normal days activities. Then I think, where do
I fit in my personal devotion time, my prayer time, visiting time with friends and
family!
I think about Jesus and his time on earth and how busy it
must have been for him, when he began his ministry. Traveling from place to
place, healing the sick, speaking in the Temple, feeding the hungry, teaching
the disciples, spending time trying to get the elite of the Jewish priests to
understand who he was.
What about today! How do we spend your time? Do you find the
time in your busy lives to spend some time with a sick friend, a family member
who is dealing with something big or small? Are you taking time to build
relationships with those that cross your path every day?
Jesus spent time getting to know his neighbors, he ate with
them, he listened to their hurts and pains, he reached out and touched them so
that God would send healing through him. He spent time sitting and laughing, he
spent time playing with the children!
Relational evangelism is something that needs to be brought
back to our faith tradition. We find ourselves so busy with all the “stuff” we
must accomplish throughout the day that we forget the most important
things in life. Sharing the good news of Christ with those we meet every day.
Let’s begin a new year in the busyness of the church and sit
a while, so that we might get to know the person that has sat next to us
in the church pew these last 12 months, who we only greet on Sunday morning
when passing the sign of peace! Let us do what Jesus did, spend time building
relationships, so that we can be that person used by God to share the news of
salvation and healing!
