By Bridget Wolk
Sunday’s sermon expressed the idea of reaching out to others in discipleship. I think back and remember how others reached out to me. As a small child, a teenager, and then as an adult, God always put someone in my life to lead me in His direction.
Did I know at the time that God’s hand was involved in my life? No. But, I do now. As a child, my mother read the Bible to my sister and I and always made sure we attended Church. She knew the importance of Christ in our lives. This continued until I was 16 years old.
Then I decided I didn’t need church anymore. That’s when God gave me a Christian friend. Being shy, I didn’t have many friends. So a Christian friend was a blessing.
She had me post “God loves you” on all my schoolbook covers and had me hang a sign on one of my desks that said the same thing. I thought that odd, but I wanted her to like me. I didn’t know that by doing so it was bringing me closer to God. God’s tricky that way.
As an adult, I didn’t attend church for a long time. Then after my children were born, God put neighbors in my life that asked if they could take my kids to Sunday school. These neighbors lived about five doors down the road from us. I knew who they were, but never associated with them.
How did they know that was exactly what we needed? God, that’s how. They were following the example of Jesus. They were being the disciples that God wanted them to be as they shared His love and grace with those around them.
They were being the disciples that God wanted them to be as they shared His love and grace with those around them.
As Brad Garrett said, going to church, memorizing Scripture, and having Christian fellowship is wonderful. We must also be willing to reach out to others as Jesus showed us.
I am trying to reach out now. I have started by looking to Jesus and following in His example. As I fail in this part of my discipleship walk I know that Jesus forgives and gives me the strength, words, and courage to continue. With God’s help I can reach out to others and share the love and grace that Jesus has given me. I have a couple on my radar. Do you?
Thank you, God.
