Each week someone comes to church who either hasn't been in a very long time or has never been to church. This person has a need. He or she has probably gone other places to find the answer to his or her need.
The most common need is not raising children, fixing finances or putting a marriage back together. These may be the needs which present themselves when asked but these will not be the true need. People can hear all the sermons about marriage, finances and raising children and remain unchanged and in just as much need. People need something that is life changing. They need something that makes life worth living.
So, they come to church a little scared and very skeptical. They are hoping that they will discover what they need in one session so they can get out of here and get back to their lives. They have no clue that their lack of commitment to anything is the reason their lives lack meaning now. There are a lot of people at church who have the same need as they do. These people come to church but have no abiding reason; no commitment to the Lord.
Why are they here? Someone invited them. Something drew them in. They are ready to hear what they need but they don't know what to listen for. Just one discouraging word from someone in the church will send them back to their cars. Just one embarrassing mistake on their part will make them leave and never return. They are like someone standing on a board laid between two buildings each twenty stories tall. One step off of the board is disastrous.
These people are God's gift to those in the church. Those who have made a commitment to the Lord understand the love of the Lord. They reach out to these people. They befriend them. It is more than a friendly faces. It is people whom they can eventually call friends.
Church people who have made a commitment to the Lord should always be on the lookout for those who have truly wandered into the church. The only way people will know that Jesus truly loves them is by being loved.
I was watching a testimony of someone who appeared on The 700 Club posted on Youtube last night. There were many comments from people who didn't believe the testimony. Some of the Christians were condemning them for their unbelief. I thought, "These people have wandered upon this testimony of this Christian lady on Youtube. Something brought them here. Why would we condemn them for their unbelief? Is this what Jesus really wants us to do?"
The arguments went back and forth. You can't argue someone into heaven. You love people into heaven. That's how Jesus did it. I think this is the way we should do it too.
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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