WILLINGNESS TO SHARE

For the first time in a long while, Courtney and I had visitors knock on our front door this past Saturday morning. It was a young man and woman, each with friendly smiles and an eagerness to talk with us about the faith they had found in Jesus and the state of the world we live in. While they never gave us their names, their love for God was palpable and their concern and care for our souls and well-being was refreshingly self-evident. Even when we shared that we were also believers in Christ, their positive attitudes and focus on hope never wavered and their smiles remained confident and sincere.

I knew before they handed us a pamphlet (because of the details of our conversation) with Scripture concerning Salvation and their core beliefs within the church they attend, that we had differences in how we viewed things and interpreted God’s Word. But in my eyes those differences took a back seat to the care they showed for Courtney and I and the respect I had for these two individuals sharing God’s love in a way that’s not popular anymore (door to door ministry).

The Apostle Paul wrote and encouraged believers in the book of Hebrews to:

“Consider how to inspire each other to greater love and to righteous deeds, not forgetting to gather as a community, as some have forgotten, but encouraging each other, especially as the day of His return approaches.”

--Hebrews 10:24-25 (VOICE)

You see, HOPE, like all other human emotions, is contagious.

When we choose to express hope and love to the world, we’re not only fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives, but we’re also offering others and even ourselves a chance to rise above negativity, pessimism, and nay-saying. As followers of Christ, we have every reason to be hopeful and every reason to share that hope with others.

If you’re having trouble finding a hopeful, optimistic, view of life right now. Please know that you’re not alone. Many share your struggle. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do believe a good way to spark positive change in your life is to take a close look at the blessings God has given you. Once you have these blessings in mind, celebrate them…thank God that He loves you so wonderfully. Then do it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Make celebrating Jesus and giving thanks to Him a part of your daily life and then share that joy with others in a way that’s honoring to God.

Above all, be intentional about finding ways to encourage others. This act is so easy to neglect but more important than we realize. Our world needs to hear messages of hope just as much as we do ourselves, and it should be our honor and heart to confess THIS GREAT LOVE we have found.

He is worthy of our voice and we are more than capable of sharing it.