Connections” |
”The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks,
and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a
friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom
Dear
family of friends,
The
life trying to happen at the recent office birthday party surely wasn’t happening.
In fact, standing around, trying to make small talk, while holding a
half-filled glass of liquid, wasn’t much fun at all. What many may consider the
“scene” really isn’t. Lost in the crowd, trying to be someone, is a very lonely
place to be. But for some, that is all they have. It need not be that way, if
we are there to tell them.
I am
truly thankful that my life isn’t one of striving while in a pressurized mode,
to make it to the top, have the great image, or be “all you can be.” That can
even happen in a church or congregation setting, with that “just below the
surface” uneasiness, or feeling out of place, that I know many experience. I
have often.
But as
my good friend Morris Ruddick would say, “There is something more.”
That
something more begins with knowing the Lord Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach, and
having His intended connection with Himself. Once we have gotten to that starting
line, His heart is to then connect us with others in His Body, and His nations
- to receive ongoing life in a very meaningful way.
Real
friendships can be bonded together as we share His purposes on this planet, as
we come together in unity to seek His face, know His will, and walk in the
understanding that you and I need each other. We are not meant to be an island
in the ocean, or the single sheep in the pack of wolves.
So
what about those who surround us, that have not had any experience yet with Him,
that we know of? There are times when I will need to be with my fellow office
staff, so as not to be isolated from them, or make them feel as if I am the “unsociable
one”. But in my pursuit to actually befriend them, right where they are, as
Jesus taught us in His examples, I will always be mindful of the real purpose.
That is to get them connected too, to the Father and their Creator, so they also
can begin to experience real life in Jesus (Yeshua).
We are
called to go out into the world, aren’t we? Does that mean going on a mission
trip to Kenya (in Africa), or the inner parts of the city where you live? Yes
it does.
It
also means to go where the people around you go, in that business setting, or
the local bar (oops, I said it) or recreational event - again as Jesus Himself did.
I guess we may even be accused of associating with sinners. I guess they did
that to Jesus too.
All of
us have been in the place where we needed a connection, another former sinner
like us, to reach out to us, right where we were at. Many of us can remember
exactly where that happened, and how. The seeds others had shown in our lives
up to that time, those other connections, were set up by the Holy Spirit (Ruach
HaKodesh) Himself, to get us in His Body. And then that rebirth happened.
As I
seek to befriend my co-workers in the office setting, even if at times I feel most
uncomfortable, I know that if I don’t reach out to them, and they don’t come to
my church setting or anyone else’s, which is most likely even more now a days,
how will they hear? How will they know? How will they get connected?
I urge
you to be bold in your actions. We need to stop being the “weak Christians
awaiting the rapture” (that rapture lie won’t happen anyway, in my opinion) and
reach out to those around us who need to get connected. You are probably the
one the Lord has been wanting to send to them.
Keep
getting life through your fellowship connections. Then give it out to those who
also need you, as Yeshua works through you.
If not
now, when? Connections are needed now more than ever.
Ahava
(love in Hebrew) to my
family of friends,
Steve
Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc. truly
appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable
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Ahava Love Letter #57 “Connections” Date: In the year
of our Lord 2013 (06/11/13 Tuesday, 8:00 am. Charlotte, NC)
All previous editions of Ahava Love
Letter can be found on this Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com
Here are the last four:
Your Name (#56)
Lost, But Not Forgotten Friends (#55)
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
(#54)
We Speak To Nations (#53)