Levels Of Concern

Life.

Full of excitement. Full of disappointment. Full of victory. Full of defeat.
Full of advancing. Full of retreating. Full of plans and revisions.

Smiles, laughter, hugs and tears. Serious solemness. Deflating drama.

We all live our own; we all have our own and occasionally, situations intersect.

You can relate because you've experienced it first hand. Maybe you can't relate because you have no frame of personal reference. Whether you are a first-hand witness or a third-hand account, as we go through life as we watch life unfold for those around us, we experience varying levels of concern.

And every once in a while, the power of God transcends it all and transplants your thoughts into "what would you do if it were happening to you". You may not recognize Him as the source of the process, but there's really no other reason for one to set aside their own life to show compassion and concern for another except for the latter 6 of the 10 Commandments being summarized to "love your neighbor as yourself".

The depth of one's concern makes all the difference. What you say. What you do. How you engage in conversation. How you encourage and show support.

Where there is little concern, one will notice. Where there is great concern, one will be moved.

Lives are rarely changed by lip service. Lives are always changed by acts of love and showings of support.

On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray that in all the busyness of pastors and ministry, that their concern for the lives in the church and community would be great; that through the power of God, people would be moved by the love and support they receive. Pray for strength, that as they give of themselves in ministry, that God will redeem and replenish their spirits for the love and support needed in their own families, friends and homes. May people realize the love of God through Jesus Christ, as the church works as God's hand extended, to meet the needs of those struggling to live life. May hearts and minds be changed for eternity as people willingly set their own life aside, to show concern for their neighbor...that regardless of their ability to relate, love and support would dominate their words and deeds; never giving simple lip service a chance to do injustice.

For the glory of God. Who so loved the world, that He gave His only Son...
and the world noticed that people were moved.

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