05 Feb Loving People
I believe that you can’t spend time in the presence of God and be transformed without getting a heart for people. God’s heart is full of people, all He thinks about is how much He loves His children. 1 John 4:19 says that we love because He first loved us, and we’ll be remembered by our love the Bible says. So to be able to love we need to have an encounter with the God of Love, Jesus Christ, He is the perfect one and He will propel us to love others. The compassion God gives us has to lead to action! In December before Christmas God gave me a heart for the lonely and homeless people. I knew He was inviting me to step in and take action. I believe the Church should be at the forefront of different issues in our society. So I decided that even though I would only have a bit over a week to prepare that I needed to do something to reach out of the four walls of the church. John 3:16 says ‘For God so loved the world that He gave…’ and we are to live a generous life in all aspects, as we give what has been given to us and we help those in need because that’s what Jesus did and that’s where you’ll find Him. I took a team from church and we had packed over 80 goodie bags filled with snacks, socks, gloves and other things that might bring them joy. What I thought was so special was that so many people from our church wrote handwritten cards that were personalized for each person. In each card was written a prophetic word or an encouragement followed by scripture and the Gospel. Our team was able to be the hands and feet of Jesus that day. We have a few testimonies that came in. One woman from our team had gotten a word from God before we hit the streets about someone and when we talked to a group of people, God showed her who this word was for. She took him aside and told him the word God gave her about that God cares for him and has not forgotten him and that He has a great plan for his life. He bursts into tears as he felt the love of God, he goes on to tell her that he has tried to kill himself two times prior and was again wanting to try again, and he had told God if he is not supposed to commit suicide God will need to stop him and send someone to stop him. This just comes to show when you’re surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit and His voice you will see Heaven invade Earth everywhere you go. That day we were able to give out most of the goodie bags and hot chocolate and pray for almost everyone we came in contact with.
If you have never encountered Jesus before, I am not talking about church or religion, I invite you to surrender to the love of Jesus. Maybe you keep fighting through life in your own strength or maybe you were hurt by religion and have been running as far away from God as possible, or maybe you can relate to this guy who has lost all hope and willingness to live. I want to tell you that God this not send his Son Jesus to earth to condemn you but to save you. Jesus who was perfect in every way took upon all sin, shame, sickness and pain on the cross and thought of you. Stop running away from God because He is waiting for you to run into His arms where you can be saved and made whole.
If you already love Jesus and have a relationship with Him, I want to encourage you to ask God to put people in your heart that you can reach out to and disciple. Just love on someone today because He wants to not just move in you but through you as you go on with your day. Stop and tell someone Jesus loves them and has a great plan for their lives, it’s that simple.
I pray that you will have eyes to see and ears to hear the heartbeat of God and to receive His love everyday.
I pray you will receive the perfect love of God that casts out all fear, that you will not bow to the fear of men but the fear and love of God.
THE AUTHOR
Anne Kristine
Hello, my name is Anne Kristine. I was born and grew up in Luxembourg but I’m originally from Norway. I am passionate about the Gospel being spread everywhere I go and for His church to rise and shine and see the Kingdom of God invade this earth.