Look Out

Look Out

Warning or statement of intent? Approaching danger or mission statement?

Let me help you a little bit. Look out, not in. Look beyond your present boundaries; beyond the four safe walls that surround and protect you. Look towards wherever God is pointing you.

Be warned – it could be dangerous! You could make yourself and your church vulnerable. You could start being church rather than just attending dutifully. Wait a minute – what was it Jesus said? ^" Jesus came and told his disciples, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age'," Matthew 28:18-20.

All the commands Jesus gave to us? That can be summed up in a single quote, Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ “ (NKJV)

What then does ‘Look Out’ mean? It’s not rocket science is it? Go give out the Gospel. Go sup with sinners. Go talk to trespassers. Go proselytise the imperfect. The alliterations are apposite and innumerable. Basically the Lord is saying, “Get out there and tell them about My gifts of salvation and grace and mercy. Baptise them and then teach them to do the same thing for others.

Look out and reach out to the world on your own doorstep and beyond.