I want to do it for the right reasons

I had a good conversation with a friend tonight about a different way of life. His passion is encouraging and if I had more friends like him I know I would see more change around me. While listening to him I agreed with everything he said but wondered if, as humans, we cut ourselves a little short. I've been so exposed to this "humanitarian christian" idea. Feeding the hungry, caring for the orphans and widows, I could do it forever. Serving is one of the greatest gifts God has given us to worship him with, but I sometimes forget that all together. We get so caught up in questions like how we can serve, who we should serve, and what serving will make the greatest impact that I personally forget why am I serving and is this what it's all about?

I can't help but to think about the early church on this subject, (another thing the people around me desperately want to emulate) I never read about them serving their community then going home to talk about Jesus among their peers. They proclaimed his name everywhere. Peter and the disciples met the needs of people as a way of opening up opportunities to preach the gospel. The book of Acts is not about the apostles serving their community, and while there is one paragraph about the kind of community they built, the book is about the life of martyrs. Healing people, preaching the gospel, and dying for what they believe.

My friend also talked about a peaceful world and being ready to die for the name of Christ with out attacking your persecutor. We should be ready for it, but at what extent do we stick up for ourselves and our Christ before it becomes a fight? I still dont know what I would even say if a situation that intense arose. The idea of peaceful living, self-sustainability, caring for the less fortunate, all great ideas, all well-intentioned, but for what? If telling the world about Jesus is our aim, if he isn't the reason we're doing this then it's not out of love, it's out of obligation. No serving can be done out of love if it's not done in the name of Christ. God is love.

I hope that when I build relationships, and serve those around me that I dont miss the opportunity to say the name "Jesus." Literally, I want to say it out loud to people so they know why I'm here. Jesus said we would do greater things than even he did, let me not underestimate the impact I can have on the kingdom of Heaven being realized on earth.

Emotional Porn

My roommate is a wedding photographer. I try to keep myself as far away from weddings, couples, sappy love stories, and chick flicks, as humanly possible but for one instant let me indulge.





















www.unique-vintage.com

Yep, this is the one.