Based on “Stand United for the Sake of the Gospel” by Pastor Mark Balmer;
11/5-6/11, Message # 6082; Daily Devotional #3 – “Get Connected”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): When asked the two most important commandments, Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) Like an eternal spring, God fills our thirsty hearts with waters filled with joy and hope. However, His work does not stop at our hearts. God also lays the pipework to connect us with hurting people who also thirst for these healing waters. We could devote a lifetime to studying and meditating on God’s Word, but if in doing so we close ourselves off from the people in the world, we will miss God’s intention for us. Parts of what will determine our success as Christ followers are the personal relationships we form with the world while we are in it. The reason why we are not “zapped” to heaven the moment we accept Jesus as our personal Savior is so that we can share the Gospel and our loving God with those in need.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): In the world of biology, there is a concept called symbiosis, which is a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which they both rely on each other for survival. As Christ followers, our ability to love God shares a symbiotic relationship with our ability to share this love with the world. If we do not spend the time in God’s Word and open our hearts to God with prayer, we will never be able provide God’s people what they need. Likewise, when we hold contempt in our hearts for God’s people, we can never have a healthy relationship with our Maker. Paul describes how we should interact with people when he tells us: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:12-13) I used to worry if I would know what to do and say when I met a person in need, but when I read that verse it became simple. I don’t need to worry about reciting the perfect Bible verse or answering every question they may have. I just need to be kind, humble, and show forgiveness, and we all know how to do those things. Anyone can show kindness to a stranger in a shopping line, be humble in dealing with a lost family member or forgive a coworker who may have betrayed us in the past. If we strive to hold firm to these principles as we interact with people around us, we open a valve in God’s pipeline that allows God’s love to flow through us into their parched hearts.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Remember that it is the personal relationships we form in this world that will define us as Christ followers. The information age gives us the ability to update our status and share photos to family and friends with the blink of an eye. While these things are not bad, be careful that they do not become a substitute for an actual relationship. We may be in touch with the people we tweet to, but we are not connected. Pick a friend or a family member this week and surprise them with a phone call. It is sad when, too often, the only time we reach out to loved ones and realize how important they are is after a tragedy. I have found reaching out to someone to have a conversation without an agenda can be one of the most rewarding things I can do with my free time.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): 1 Peter 1:22; Galatians 5:22
WSK
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.