What is True Christianity?
Late Sunday afternoon a message popped up on Messenger. Someone I knew from our church in Pensacola, Cindy, was asking what I had going on the following day. I was a little surprised since I didn’t know her very well yet and she didn’t have any young kiddos.
However, Cindy went on to describe how God had highlighted a woman she had met through Facebook Marketplace that afternoon. She truly believed this woman was ready to receive Jesus and asked if I would join her. My heart leapt. Cindy’s heart burned with compassion and love for this young mom she had met. And I was instantly reminded of what I had read during my quiet time that morning.
“Beyond all these things PUT on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Colossians 3:14-15 (NASB)
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, CLOTHE yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Col 3:14-15 NIV)
“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, DRESS in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, WEAR love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” (Col 3:14-15 MSG)
Each one of these different versions make it clear that we don’t instantly wake up with love in our hearts. But there is an action on our part that needs to take place. Just like our clothing doesn’t jump onto our bodies we have to make a decision each day to clothe ourselves with the love of Christ.
Cindy, had chosen to put on, clothe and dress herself with love before she walked out the door that day. So when she encountered one of God’s children in need she was ready. My heart felt a deep conviction. Too often life gets busy, there are needs surrounding me and I don’t actively put the love of Christ on. I can even come out of my quiet time with Jesus and instantly become frustrated with one of my kids because of something they have done. But the NASB version says that when we put on the love of Christ it is “the perfect bond of unity.”
With this percolating in my mind we set a date and time to meet the following day. The next day my kids and I met Cindy at the young woman’s house. We first had an opportunity to take the woman’s children down to the pool while she worked on packing up her house (she was packing to move to San Diego to be with family).
After a couple hours at the pool we headed upstairs where this young woman had bought a cake to celebrate her daughter’s birthday which was in a couple days. She wasn’t going to be able to host a birthday party for her daughter since they were moving so she was happy our kids were there to celebrate with her daughter (the blessing of ministering while your kids are with you).
While kids happily ate their cake and played we began to minister to this young woman. Cindy and I got to share the gospel, speak truth over her and pray with her to receive Jesus. Cindy, led her in a prayer of repentance and accepting Christ. After praying with her we gave her some “what’s next steps”. We also sent her some good podcasts to listen to so she could truly understand what she just did and we got her a Bible (she had never read the Bible before).
Today as you go about your routine can you please join us in prayer for this young lady as she heads to San Diego? To give your life to Jesus is incredible and God can take that simple yes and begin to work in powerful ways. But this young lady also needs others to be “clothed” with Christ’s love and walk with her when she gets to San Diego.
For we are not called to walk our Christian life alone. We are a part of a body (1 Corinthians 12:27) and when a new believer commits their life to Christ they need their body to walk with.
Wherever you are at in your own journey will you choose to “put on” the love of Christ and pour into others. John 13:35, says, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. You could be an answer to someone else’s prayer.
Prayer Requests:
Tumor in Esperanza’s head disappears.
Bruce’s cartilage grows back in his foot & bone spurs disappear.
Bruce only needs about $900 for flights to Peru to be a photographer for an orphanage in Peru. (Click Here to Partner).
