Lovewell: A Theology - Day 15

Acts 1:8
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

End Statement #3: Crosswalk will be relevant in living out the ways of Jesus in our place and time.

The gospel is relevant, and we have been called to preach that gospel, to be those witnesses from our hometown (Jerusalem) to our neighbors (Judea and Samaria) and then to the rest of the world. There is a pattern, and there is a relevance that is assumed of the Gospel in the world.

Why is the gospel always relevant? And why do we seek to be relevant in living out those ways in our place and time?

The simple answer is that the gospel is the greatest story of the greatest love the universe has ever known. It is also safe to say that Love will always be relevant. I don’t know if you have enough love in your life that you don’t want anymore, but I doubt it. Love is something that we all need more and more of, not less and less of. We all are seeking a greater experience and hope of love. And the gospel is the divine’s answer to the need for love. It is love incarnate, absolute, and unending.

So then, why do we seek ways to live it out in our place and time with relevancy?

The answer to that is simply that this is where we find ourselves, and we have to make our love make sense to our context. We are no longer living in the year 1000, or even 2000. Even the way we found and expressed love 20 years ago seems different now. Much has changed in 20 years, or 1020 years, or even 2020 years. But one thing remains: “The greatest of these is love. . .”

So we seek to make love tangible, to put skin on love, and allow that skin to get dirty as we seek to serve those who are underserved in our world. As I write this, we are feeding close to 100 people at our Lovewell Dinner before our medical clinic serves those who come for help. This is love with skin on it. This is the relevancy of love in every space and time. We are blessed to show that love and care to those around us. Compassion is never in such great supply that it is not needed somewhere in the world and certainly around us.

Interestingly, the process that Jesus speaks to “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the whole world. . .” is truly the process that love takes. We love locally, as we must. That is where our initial influence of love lies. And then, when we love and lovewell that influence of love continues to grow in outward circles until it reaches the whole world. But always, start locally. We are incredibly blessed to be able to serve where we live and know that the compassion of Jesus will overflow to the ends of the earth. 

1. Do you have too much love in your life? 
2. Could you have too much love? 
3. What do you think you can do locally in order to show the influence of God’s love over your family and neighbors? 
4. What is the greatest love you have ever felt from someone who claims the name of Jesus? 
5. How can you make sure you are starting down this path of love for yourself, your family and your neighbors? And how do you know if it will be relevant?