Following Christ in the 21st Century....

A lot is being said about what Jesus wants his followers to be doing these days. Things like fulfilling the command to love your neighbor as yourself: serve them, feed them, stand up for them, visit them, sacrifice for them, and more. Jesus did tell us to be doing these things. By loving others it proves our love for God and proves we belong to God.

I agree wholeheartedly that these are the things we should be doing. But there is something else that should be noted. Since Adam and Eve there was the promise of a Savior, a Redeemer, and this One would come to earth to pay for and buy back his people. When he came the angels of heaven announced his birth by saying his coming was Good News (gospel). Mary, Zachariah, Simeon and others spoke his bringing salvation. Joseph was instructed to call and name him Jesus, for he would save his people from their sins. This name and description was given by God.

When Jesus began his 3 years of ministry, he was introduced by John as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And he (John) also preached to those around him that they should repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Also that each one must receive and believe on Jesus Christ and they would become children of God.

When Jesus arrived on the scene, he began by saying that forgiveness was in His name. He came and began setting people free from the burden and bondage of sin and gave them a new life. He preached repentance and forgiveness of sins. He told his followers to go into the whole world and preach the gospel. He said to many, if you don't repent, you too will perish. He said to Nichodemus in essence, "you must be born again if you want to enter the kingdom of God."

Here's the crux: both are correct. Both are right. The pendulum swings from preaching to serving, back and forth over time. It is completely right to serve others. In this serving we point people to Jesus. We invite them to join with us in doing good to others. We help them to see God's grace that is extended to them. It is right to preach the gospel. It is by grace that he wants to save them from their sins, set them free from sin's bondage and prison, and give them a new transformed life to live. We show them a transformed life - our story. We reveal faith and trust in Jesus alone. This is the Gospel, the Good News. Without the Gospel there is no power to salvation. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. The transformed life is revealed by how we love God and others.

God is always asking, "Who is available and who will go for us?" May our answer be, "Here am I, send me." Take who you are and what you have, take your passions and gifts, and share the Good News of Jesus and serve others in Jesus' name. This is the Kingdom.