Weekly Devotion – October 2, 2011 Biblical Values Part 3

Theme/Title: Called and Sent

Scripture:  Matthew 28: 18-20; Luke 24: 44-48 & Acts 1:8

Media: 

 "First Contact" by Moviemomentsdotorg

Reflections

We are to care for others, work for justice; spend quality time with those less fortunate then us.  Love is the prime value and motivator for our lives and relationship, especially love for God and others.  These are the values we learn from the Bible.  These are the values we know come from God.  These are the values that Jesus taught, lived, died for and calls us to emulate in our lives.  These are the values that caused John Wesley to challenge the Church of England and to develop a new faith community.  These are the values that provide the foundation of the United Methodist Church.

But there is one more “value,” if you well, that is Biblical and essential for people of faith and lives of faith.  That value, is witnessing, sharing, living as a faithful child of God – the belief that what you have found is so critical to you and your life that you cannot help but want to share it with others.

As Jesus came to help us understand what God calls us to so now we are sent out to share that knowledge and that call.  Jesus directly and specifically commands us to teach, to forgive, and to witness at home, in the surrounding area, throughout the nation and the entire world.  We cannot deny that this is our call and our commission.  But this isn’t some kind of evangelist tour sort of sharing and witnessing.  This is a living and loving witness; it is who we are shows what we are.  The value here is one that admits to the tremendous gift we receive when we accept God’s grace and love, when we seek to put love into action and when we invest fully in our relationship with God, self and others.

This value of sharing and witnessing is based upon one premise: those who we share with must have their basic needs met.  How can we talk about God, forgiveness, teach about God’s way, or expect others to love God and other people if every part of their being is trapped in a life or death struggle for survival?  Our first, best witness is to live out the values of God by seeing to the basic needs of all people everywhere.  As their needs are met, as they move from survival to living, people will have the opportunity to come to know God in the ways we know God.

Witnessing, showing the world who we are and whose we are is a Biblical value and is a value God desires for our lives.  The people of Israel were to be a light unto the nations; Christians are to teach the world about love; we are to share – to witness – with all we say, all we do, all we support, how we use our time and talents, and what we challenge and oppose.  Jesus said, “you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth."

Meditation: How is it you witness to your faith?  How do you show love to the world?  Can you risk comfort, acceptance, and anonymity to live out God’s values?

Prayer: Pray for those who place themselves in difficult situations as they witness to their faith and live out the command to love.  Pray for those who need strength to show their love to the world.