Who is God Leading You to Minister to?

As I’ve written over the past weeks, the current pandemic and racial issues in our world have caused me to truly consider my actions and my thoughts.  With that, my small group’s study of the Book of Acts, has caused me to consider how I interact with others.  The Book of Acts gives history and foundation for the church, as it lays out the actions and working of the Holy Spirit in the early church.  This week’s lesson emphasized how God does not show partiality between us.  He loves us all the same, no matter what we have or what we’ve done.  He sent Jesus to die for all our sins.  Of course, it’s up to us, whether we accept Him.  

However, Jesus told his disciples (followers) to go into all the world and tell the Good News of who Jesus was and the sacrifice He made so that we could all be reconciled to God.  Like many of us, who are saved, the early Christians thought they were special and that Jesus died just for them.  That was not the case.  Jesus came that all men (and women) would have the opportunity to receive the salvation He paid for with His life (John 3:17).  

The more I thought about that, the more I see that I may be delinquent in my service to Him.  Without a doubt, He is my Savior.  But, have I done all that He’s told me to do?  There are some people I just don’t care for.  I mean, I love them as people, but I don’t “like” some of them very much.  I’m sure there are many people who feel the same way about me.  I can honestly say, I’ve never thought I was better than anyone else, but I have shied away from some characters because they were just “too much.”  

I wonder now if I’ve hesitated or ignored the leading of the Holy Spirit to share God’s love for them.  I’d like to hope that I haven’t, but I’m not sure.  The Lord loves all of us and I need to make sure that I love people and do for them, just as I would want someone to do for me.  I know we’re on a journey through this thing called life and the Bible and the Holy Spirit are our guides, if we have a relationship with Jesus as our savior.  The thing to remember is that Jesus is Lord. His Word reigns supreme.  He said to love God first and then my neighbor as myself (Luke 10:27).  That means I’ve got to be more intentional about sharing the love of Christ even with those I wouldn’t normally.  James said it best, in James 4:17, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.  This is a process and as we learn better, we have to do better.  That’s my plan going forward.