TOUCH OF LOVE

The one who ends up with the most toys wins. ”Pile up enough things, destroy all oppositions, network with movers, power, position and status. So goes the story. It’s rumor.” The Bible says, “Do not be conformed to this world… have a renewed mind.” (Rom 12:2)  No amount of this world can ease the eternal heartaches. People need the Lord. In fact, the one who lives next door, those who cut your hair, your office mate. God is asking you to “reach out and touch someone.”  Someone may groan,  “But I am not gifted for evangelism.” “I’ve tried to use popular methods they don’t work for me”, “I’ve tried, honestly, it just didn’t work.”  What can you say that will make a difference? Let’s not approach the song with the old chorus.  Today let’s talk about touching people in ways according to your own giftedness.  The Bible reveals the wisdom that God is not so much asking you to tell your friend what a friend they have in Jesus, as in showing them what a friend they have in you. Today's way is to “love them until they ask why.” A phrase originated from an Indian couple in India who feed thirty  students every Sunday after service. They were asked, Do you talk about Jesus during the course of fellowship? No, the couple replied, “It is hard to talk about Jesus openly. We feed them till they ask why.” (Aldrich) Didn’t our Lord say something about loving our neighbors? Not evangelizing them but loving them. This is the knack of evangelism. Not just to inform or follow some structured points to say, but to be led by the Holy Spirit to love and edify. So when you are called to teach, preach or text do it in the spirit of “love thy neighbor.” Bible gives in extremes, “I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love.” Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud.  Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. (1Cor 13)  Love God and Neighbor in Christ Jesus.

Be blessed,

Pastor Edpaul