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"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
(John 3:16)
Every first Sunday in December, our church highlights the mission opportunities God has given us for the year. It is my favorite Sunday of the year! What a joy it is to look back and see the hand and favor of God upon our people throughout the year as we went out with the Gospel. It was quite a different year in so many ways. We were largely unable to travel overseas or even do much by way of personal engagement because of COVID-19, but that did not stop us from reaching out. We had to be a bit more creative, like ministering to those on the frontlines fighting against the coronavirus. I am also very proud of how we continued to support our many mission partners all over the globe.
One really neat ministry in which we were able to participate this year was the alleviation of much medical debt for those in two counties south of Austin, TX. Through our partnership with RIP Medical Debt, we were able to help many strapped by medical debt. Can you imagine people in Texas getting a letter from this company informing them that people they do not even know have eliminated their medical debt? The one verse that I chose to include in the letter to these individuals was John 3:16. It still is the most recognized verse in the Bible and succinctly presents the Gospel to those who hear it.
I think we are at our best as followers of Jesus when we are giving and forgiving. God has graciously and wondrously saved us from sin and hell. He has forgiven us our debt of sin and called us to go and be ambassadors of His good news to the nations of the world. To err indeed is the flaw of the human race, but to forgive--oh, yes indeed--to forgive is to follow Jesus in the purest sense of what it means to be a Christian. Can you imagine how blessed we would be and how much better off our world would be if the people of God would forgive those who wrong them and give like Jesus gave?
Who will you bless this week? Who will you extend forgiveness to? Who will you help with the abundance God has given to you? John 3:16 states so clearly that God loves us so much that He gave; He gave the very best, the treasure of Heaven, the glorious King of the Universe, Jesus the Messiah. May God richly bless you today, and may you be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He opens doors for you to give and forgive.
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