Back to our Mission, pt. 2

(Yesterday was getting long, so I'm posting the rest today.)

So Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10)
His ministry was, and is, to go out into the world sharing God's love.
He went so far as to say he would leave 99 "sheep" behind to go after the one lost lamb.

But Jesus was only one man.
Not a really effective ministry plan if no one else catches the vision.
And we see that along the way other people caught the vision.
Others began to follow Jesus.
They began to believe in Jesus.
Then they started to do the things that Jesus did.
He taught them, cared for them, challenged them, brought out the best in them.

In fact, Jesus sent his Spirit so that all of us who believe in him would be empowered to "be him" to the world.

But he never lost focus on his mission.
And likewise, we must never lose focus on ours.
Connections is about the one. The one that is lost and good-as-gone if no one comes to rescue him.

I have come to the conclusion that it is really the only way to grow as a believer- to stay completely focused on this mission. It is the never-fail path to personal growth and a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Try it. Get together with a neighbor. Ask them if they know you're a Christian. Ask them if they are a Christian. See where the conversation goes.
See if they don't ask questions that you don't have the answer for.
See if that doesn't inspire you to pray more.
See if that doesn't get you reading the bible more attentively.
See if that doesn't get you to look at your own life and everything you say and do.
See if that doesn't get you seeking out Christian relationships for support.

A church that remains focused on the lost will also be a church where the followers continue to grow in their relationship with Jesus and experience the closest fellowship.
It is the amazing by-product of this kind of life.

But you MUST stay on the mission to seek and save, and everything else will fall into place- worship, fellowship, prayer and study, etc.

That's what's so AMAZING about Jesus. He knew the best way to be about the whole person and the whole church was to never lost track of his true calling.