I am a stranger to this place...

   

     How many of us are just people attending church?  And by that I mean, we are strangers to the Christ that is spoken of in church.  How many times has someone walked through your church doors and thought, "I'm not a Christian, but I'm coming to your church."  Now they may have left after that church service only to never return and you think ok cool whatever.  Here's another way to look at it... how many people are sitting in our church services every week saying they are not a Christian but merely coming to the service?

     Do you feel like we've lost something here?  In both cases we have lost the cause... The first case we choose to simply be okay with someone being lost because they do not attend our church.  The second case we choose to be okay with someone not knowing Christ simply to fill a seat and look big.  What is this mess?  Have we become to callused to the pain of this world that we put standards to someones salvation?  We have become a church society totally fine with letting people burn in hell, yes I said it, we have become lazy, scared, fearful and complacent!  When is the last time you took our commandment seriously...

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."              -Mark 16:15

     This means that we are to speak to the person sitting next to us in the service, the coffee bar and possibly even the bathroom stall.  "I'm not a Christian, but I'm coming to your church," these are words that are fine to hear at some point, BUT this statement should change.  We should hear, "I once was lost but I have been found in the saving grace of Christ."  How many times have you sat next to someone in service and just assumed they have a relationship with Christ?  When was the last time you asked?!  Live each day with this thought each time you meet someone:  "I only know as much about you as you let me see."  

Sold out for who...

As I read through the book of Luke I am realizing more and more that it is by how Christ reacted and spoke that people began to follow.  His words produced life, assurance and grace.  Christ was totally sold out to the cause, but more importantly his disciples were sold out to the cause.  Now do not get me wrong there were plenty of times when his disciples screwed up royally, but Christ spoke assurance and grace into their lives.  He never came at them in a mean way, yet he came to them with mercy.  These men left everything they had to be completely sold out to this man hated among so many.  To be sold out... what does that mean to you?  Is it simply stating you are sold out or is there a sense of letting go involved?  If you go to the store and they say, "We are all sold out of that item," what does that mean?  Right- THEY DO NOT HAVE IT ANYMORE.  That means that they are not carrying that item anymore or not for a while.  For us as Christians, to be sold out means that we are not carrying that "crap" we held onto for so long.  It means that we are not looking backwards to our pasts and those who pulled us down.  Are you really sold out for Christ or are those just 2 words you love to throw around when you are at church?  A sold out life is one that is lived not just spoken of.  Take a look at your life and your actions, look at your words, do they signify a sold out life to Christ or simply a fake life?  I am leaving you with plenty of questions because I want you to think about this.

Luke was someone who was simply a reporter in all sense of the word.  Luke was paid to bring back this story of the man who brought hope to all.  What's your story....