Invest

Yesterday, I started our series entitled, I.C.E. This is a series that is designed to challenge and equip our church to become intentional about pursuing people, especially those outside the Church. I talked about how this is not something that was intended to bring discomfort, but merely what followers of Jesus do. Did not Jesus actively pursue people, especially those who were far from him? He most certainly did. Yet, why is this so hard...and SOOO uncomfortable for us? I don't have all the answers for this question, but one thing I do know. Jesus did not mandate us to pursue people to make us miserable. In other words, it is not as though he likes to see us squirm and this was a good way to bring this about.

Rather, I think the very opposite is true. He knows something profound...we were created to be relational. Just as our God is a relational God (both with himself and with us), he created us to be in relationships with him as well as with others. Relationships are for our benefit and joy! This might be the reason we think hermits are weird. It's abnormal to live in isolation. Not only that, this is why solitary confinement is a punishment. We don't want to be alone, we want to be relationships with others...it's life-giving.

Therefore, even though it may be uncomfortable for us to pursue and initiate relationships with people, it really is for our joy and benefit. Think about the relationships you are the closest with, whether romantically or platonic, all of them share the same common denominator....someone took a risk and put themselves out there and something great came from it. When we live like this on a more frequent basis, the possibility of reaching people for Jesus and becoming greater friends along the way are endless.