Beyond Hope?
Theme of the Week: The Reaching-out Risk
Jim Kallam Jr.
Friday, October 1, 2004
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: If we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not seen? (1 John 4:20). Bonus Reading:1 John 4:16b–21
Several years ago, a certain woman and her children began attending our church. The pain she felt over her husband's absence was deep. He wasn't simply staying home; he'd left her. Folks from our church family showed love to her and the kids. She began to experience Christ being poured into her life. The fragrance of Christ was released like a sweet-smelling perfume.
Meanwhile, two men in our church began to reach out and care for the husband. After some time, he began to attend the second of our two worship services by himself. Eventually he came back home. Their marriage is restored, and their relationship with Christ is growing.
Recently the husband shared with me that if it hadn't been for the love he felt from this community, and in particular from those two men, he doubted if he would ever have come back. It wasn't what he'd expected from a church. "I thought I'd be judged and pushed aside, but people really loved me. Sam and Eric in particular offered me hope. Despite all I'd done and all my failures, they demonstrated that my life wasn't beyond hope. God could rebuild my marriage and my life."
—Jim Kallam Jr. in Risking Church
My Response: A different way I could treat someone I've judged would be …
Thought to Apply: We like someone because, we love someone although.
—Henri de Montherlant (French author)
Adapted from Risking Church (WaterBrook, 2003) by permission.
Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click
for reprint information.
1 of 1
 share this page
Jesus, You died for me while I was still a rebel. Help me to reach out to other outsiders on your behalf.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| 
RSS Feed
