ALONG THE JOURNEY
BY MARK WILBANKS
Unfinished Business
Rich Stearns is president of World Vision U.S. and has authored two books, one we are very familiar with – The Hole in our Gospel. It was a great privilege to host Rich and his wife, Reneé, last year at Wieuca. His second book, Unfinished, begins with the premise that believing is only the beginning. He urges readers to consider the call to action that Jesus issued to those who would follow Him. He writes: “Our lives are part of a much bigger story … and unless we understand how our story fits into this bigger story we will live our lives with little sense of real purpose or significance, drifting through life like a ship without a rudder.”
It would be unusual to meet a person who doesn’t want his or her life to count for something more than just self-gratification. We might think otherwise, but research bears this truth out. Most people want their lives to matter beyond themselves.
Three passages in Matthew specifically call Christ followers to such commitment:
- The Great Commandment – “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (22:37-39)
- The Great Compassion – “When you did it to one of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!” (Matthew 25:40)
- The Great Commission – “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always.” (28:19,20)
We all know these are critical days for Wieuca. As we pray for God’s direction and blessing, let us determine to complete unfinished business. There is a world just outside our doors in need of our love in action.
|
