And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-36

Devotion

Chances are, if you attended elementary school in the United States, you remember the age old tradition of “Show and Tell.” It was the time in class when you were allowed to bring something from home—usually something you made or a gift you were given - to display and share why it was special to you. I remember when I was in first grade bringing a toy car my dad had given me from his time serving a TDY assignment in Spain. I thought I was pretty cool until another student got up and displayed the fully functioning marionette he had built at home. (Really? In first grade?) I may or may not still be bitter about the one-upsmanship displayed by my former friend …

But I digress … that’s NOT the story we have to tell.

Our story is the Good News of how Jesus paid the price for our sins. “Show and Tell” is how we communicate this news.

Matthew 9 describes Jesus proclaiming and healing. Obviously, proclaiming is the “telling” part of show and tell. Healing is the “showing” part. 

One of the ways we can communicate God’s love to a broken and lost world is by showing God’s love. For Jesus, showing God’s love meant healing the sick, casting out demons, and feeding the five thousand. Any time we serve others out of our devotion to Christ, we are showing them the love of God. Theologian and author Ed Stetzer calls this “gospel demonstration.” At Crossings, we call this being a voice of hope. However you describe it and no matter what you call it, showing God’s love is an essential part of our calling to be salt and light in a dying and dark world. 

Here at Crossings, we offer a myriad of ways you can be involved in showing God’s love—be a voice of hope—to people who may feel unloved, forgotten, and worthless. For example …

Last month we hosted the Feed the Hunger packathon at all of our Crossings locations and three of our state prisons. We packed over 700,000 meals that will help feed at-risk children and women in both Bangladesh and Ghana. That is a powerful demonstration of God’s love to people we will probably never meet.

Every year, Crossings volunteers serve in all of our local partner schools. They serve as mentors, greeters, assistants to teachers, tutors, and so much more. It doesn’t require specialized training or some unique skill. All it takes is your desire to demonstrate God’s love to someone else. Our Christmas backpack program every year is just another way Crossings—and everyone who fills a backpack—demonstrates God’s love. 

To be honest, it’s pretty easy for us to demonstrate God’s love to those we consider “less fortunate” than ourselves. But what about the people who hold opposing viewpoints on politics, social issues, or religious beliefs—or who are fans of the San Antonio Spurs? The truth is, we are called to demonstrate God’s love to them as well. The command to love our neighbor includes every single person who is an image-bearer of God. That means everybody.

The world—even our political culture here in the United States—encourages us to fight our enemies. Jesus commands, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Loving your enemy … that is a powerful demonstration of God’s love. 

What do you show the world? When people observe your life, what do you demonstrate? Love for Jesus or love for stuff? Love for the helpless or love for power? Love for the broken or love of comfort? 

It’s your life. You are the one who chooses what you show and tell.

My hope is that you will choose to show the love of Jesus. And in doing so, reflect his beauty to a world that is broken and lost.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for the ultimate demonstration of love we see in Jesus, who looked at a harassed and helpless world and moved toward it with compassion. Forgive us for the times our lives demonstrate a love for comfort, power, or personal opinions rather than a love for you.

Help us to live out a "gospel demonstration" every day. Give us the willingness to step up as the laborers you are calling into the harvest. Teach us to show your love not just when it is easy or comfortable, but even when it means loving our enemies, praying for those who oppose us, and serving those who are vastly different from us.

When the world looks at our lives, let them see a clear reflection of Jesus. May our actions be a voice of hope that shows your beauty to a broken and lost world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Michael Milligan
Pastor, Missions & Outreach - OKC

Resources:

Read B.L.E.S.S. - 5 Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World by Dave Ferguson and Jon Ferguson.

Watch Serving with Compassion by Voddie Baucham.

See how you can serve through Missions! https://crossings.church/missions.

Explore other devotions like this one any time at crossings.church/devotions .