Famous For...

While driving in the state immediately southwest of the one in which I reside, I saw a billboard for a restaurant that caused me to consider this post.

It simply said:

Famous for food (BBQ, perhaps?)
Famous for friends
Famous for smiles

Sadly, all too often, the church is infamously known for something rather than famously known.

But isn't it amazing and at the same time, not surprising, the church of Jesus Christ would be known by a character trait that is not innate to humanity, but the very basis for God's every word and deed.

LOVE.

Every single perspective on human development and improvement, God is already there.

To live intentionally.
To speak clearly.
To engage authentically.
To listen attentively.
To share compassionately

The list could go in...

And yet, because God is love, there is no other way for Him continue.

Love compels intentionality, demands clarity, seeks authenticity, respects attentiveness and serves compassion.

Everything the church does, what we are known for doing and saying, should point point back to the person of Christ. For if it doesn't, then we are not known by and for who God is, but what He is not... for He is not the flawed and feeble attempts of greatness by a sinful-natured humanity.

Thus, as the church engages community, the words couldn't be any more true than when they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

"If we have not LOVE, we are nothing."

Thanks, for taking a few moments out of this #communitySaturday, to join me in prayer; that the church of Jesus Christ as it engages and impacts the community around them, would be known as people who love. May they know our love for God and His love on display to them, through our lives. Pray our failures and mistakes would not distract or detour others from experiencing God; but prove all the more that life is meaningless and purposeless without God. May we not seek to be known for ourselves, but to be known for the love of God; to be His hands and feet extended. 

For it is not our goodness,
But His greatness.
That we would be driven to love,
By His love.
All is complete, in Christ alone.
For the glory of God.

- PNC

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