Chooses to Love
“Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men (and women). What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us…”
-2 Corinthians 5:11-14a
A trait of a church that heaven applauds is that she loves the people in her community as well as her call to reach them. Why does a church that pleases God love the people in the
community and the call to reach them for Christ? Because we love Jesus and we know that Jesus loves people, and wants those people to know his saving grace. We are then filled with love for the people that Jesus loves so we do whatever we can to reach them. When we love the people of our community and we want them to know Christ then we will serve the people of the community with a glad heart. Our actions will be characterized by a sustainable passion – one that does not flare up or die down quickly.
A church that chooses to love the people in its community will always find the time, energy and money it needs to reach those people for Christ. Why? Because we make sure that we do that which we love. That kind of church will be a church that heaven applauds.
