How big is your world?
Matthew 28:18-20 says "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Jesus saw the world and not just a few people sitting in front of Him: The love of He and His father transcended borders, barriers of hate and doubt in order to reach people with truth and love. He then calls us to do the same.
How big is our world? Have we managed to stay safe in the border living and kept ourselves clean from the effects of the world or have we gotten dirty while loving those who have seemed to be unlovable. I would offer that the latter is the life Jesus has called us to live.
Love the world and make disciples (students, learners) in the ways of Christ and not the name of empty religion. Empty religion is doing acts of worship for selfish gain or meaningless repetition rather than out of love for people and the cause of Christ. Trying to please God so He will find us appealing, rather than accepting the fact that He has come for us and made a way for us to come to Him.
How big is our world? Has it been shrunken by our unwillingness to be obedient to the words of Jesus in His call to love people different from us "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:46-48)
Jesus has called us into a new kind of love, a love which puts action to our words and not just saying one thing and living another. "The world is not looking for someone who has all the answers, the world is looking for people who will walk with them in love through all their stuff, until they discover the answer for themselves". Jesus said when we hunger and thirst for His righteousness, we will be satisfied and if we are hungering and thirsting we will be loving those who God has called us in love to care for in His name.
It's a Big World but How big is OURS?
Love those who persecute you is what Jesus says "Love Always Wins" even when the natural outcome says different at the time.
Big love!
