I’m going to be completely
honest with you. I have started writing this blog and then deleted everything
I wrote about three times in the past two days. My thoughts were so jumbled up
in my head, and I was so focused on having such wise words to share with you,
that I just couldn’t write yesterday. So many different topics were running
through my mind, I didn’t look to see for myself what God wanted to teach me.
Isn’t it funny how he teaches us through our teaching others? Love that. So.
After sitting and waiting, and praying…God put on my heart to share with you
why it’s important to break out of our “Christian bubble”.
As
a college student, there are hundreds of clubs and organizations to be a part
of. When I came to college back in 2009 (wow that seems forever ago!) I wanted
to only be involved in groups that were Christian. I didn’t want to be hanging
around people who were doing “bad things”. My week consisted of at least three
different “Christian” things whether it was the small group I was in, my Young
Life kids, or IV, I made sure to be doing things on the weekends with those
friends too, and pretty soon, my time at college was class, and Christian
events. Now, I’m not saying that any of these things are bad. Get plugged into
a small group. Have a group of friends you can count on to help you grow in
your faith. Find a church. Find a way to serve. But. God also calls us to reach
out to the nations and share the good news with them. How can we do that if we
don’t have a sphere of influence in our lives that we can reach out to?
“All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age.” Matthew 28: 18-20
I
remember when I was in church one Sunday, and they started this thing called
the “reach three” card. We were to write down names of people who we could
share Jesus with. It took me SO LONG to name people who weren’t my extended
family, or people from middle school. That was when I was like…what am I doing?
So I started small, and made friends with people on my hall sophomore year that
didn’t know the Lord, and got to have a few deep sweet conversations. See,
Jesus didn’t hang out with the Pharisees, he hung out with the tax collectors
and prostitutes. He didn’t spend time with them to become like them, but to be
the light.
“It
is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the
righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17
Disclaimer:
We are sinners too, but the difference as Christians is we have been saved by
faith through Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. We have an opportunity to
share Jesus with others, if we spend time with people who don’t know him.
8For by
grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast… Eph 2:8
So,
how does that apply now? As Cru staff, we are encouraged to have something called
“2-hour non-christian time”. We are to find something we love doing, whether it
is writing, or doggies, or sports, and use that as a way to meet people who
might not know Jesus. This year, I decided to become a ballerina. Hey. Don’t
laugh. Yes I wear a leotard. Yes I wear tights. No I’m not good at it. But I
love to dance, and there are two women in there that I am getting to know so
Jesus can love them through me, and so I can have a chance to share Him with
them.
Back to the couple hundred clubs on
campus…find one that fits with something that you are passionate about-
intramurals, trivia night, they even have the coloring club at CNU…and get
involved! Make friends! Take this opportunity to be a light on your
campus!
