“I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 12:2-3 (NLT)

We know that from the beginning God had a plan and purpose for his people. Included in that plan was the fact that we are blessed so that we can bless others. In Genesis 12 Abraham was called to leave his country and go to a land that God would show him. Although Abraham did not know where he was going he did receive the certainty of the promise of God to make him into a great nation and to bless him. He also knew that there was a purpose that had been given to him, which was to be a blessing to others.  This theme carries through the Old Testament with God’s people told that they would be a light to others and bring the salvation of God to the world![1]

Jesus came into the world and hung out with sinners[2]. He intentionally spent time with those who were in need. When Jesus travelled from Judea to Galilee he could have easily followed the way that all Jews took in order to avoid Samaria. The Jews believed that any contact with Samaritans would lead to their being contaminated because of the longstanding division that existed between them[3]. But Jesus took the shortest route and intentionally entered the city of Sychar[4]. He wanted to be a blessing to those who had not yet received the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Alan Hirsch in his book The Forgotten Ways says this of Jesus:

“He hung out with “sinners”, and he frequented the bars/pubs of his day (Matt. 11:19) He openly feasted, fasted, celebrated, prophesied, and mourned in such a way as to make the kingdom of God accessible and alluring to the average person.”[5]

In his missional book David Bosch says:

“What amazes one again and again is the inclusiveness of Jesus’ mission. It embraces both the poor and the rich, both the oppressed and the oppressor, both the sinners and the devout.”[6]

And we are also called to reach out to everyone. As Jesus was speaking to a crowd of people on a mountainside he said that we are the salt of the earth and that we are the light of the world[7]. We have a clear purpose and our mission must include those who we would not usually mix with. We have to be intentional in our mission.

Graham Cray says “… Christians are to live as a visible alternative community”[8] and goes on to add that this is an “involved distinctiveness, not a detached one”[9]. If we are going to have a wide and effective influence in our communities we have to be intentional about the way that we live, the way that we spend our time, and the friendships that we develop. We have to know that we are called to be different, to live holy lives, but not apart from our context and culture but as integral members of our communities.

So ask yourself how many non-Christian friends that you have. If the answer is none, or not many, how can you find opportunities to meet new people outside of the church? Once you have established a friendship, be intentional in developing that friendship. Meet regularly together, look for opportunities for meaningful engagement. Be hospitable. Live a life that is an example not a hindrance, and be ready to share the gospel when the opportunity is right!

David Bareham

This post is reproduced on Community Church Chafford Hundred Website