(Jesus checking out the loaves and fishes at Costco)
This past week in worship, we handed out “Flat Jesus” to all the adults (the kids and youth got theirs in Sunday School). I asked the kids during the children’s story what advice they would give to the adults about sharing Jesus with the world. One of them reminded us we could pray with people who need prayer. Another reminded us that we could tell people that Jesus is kind. And another shared that we could tell people that Jesus loves everyone.
From the mouths of babes we are reminded of deeply profound truths!
At the end of the Gospel of Matthew we read Christ’s commission to his disciples:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).
Jesus’ instructions to his disciples, in the midst of their confusion after his resurrection, was to go out and to create communities where ethnic and racial boundaries no longer divide and where the world altering teachings of a rabbi from Nazareth are enacted in communities committed to loving God and loving neighbor.
That’s a tall order, isn’t it? I mean, who amongst us loves the idea of evangelizing our neighbors – let alone the world?! And yet this is what Jesus is calling us to do – to go out and to bring the good news of the profoundly reconciling work of Christ to a world that dearly needs it. This is definitely a whole-life task that we accomplish in living out our faith in front of our neighbors. But sometimes it takes words as well.
You are loved.
You are sought out.
You are seen.
You are welcome.
So, this week let the PMBC children encourage you to share God’s love through words and prayers with those around you as we participate with God in the re-creation of the world. Don’t be afraid – for Jesus’ promise to always be with us is a promise that remains!
Blessings,
Pastor Amy
PS – If you want your own “Flat Jesus,” you can find them in the narthex.
