Devotion - January 6, 2022

Hello Extraordinary Connection Family,

I have been thinking a lot about evangelism lately.  It might be because we are going through the Gospel of John, it might be because I hope that we can continue to grow our church, it might be because the Lord has set it in my heart... but whatever the reason, I have felt a renewed call for us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world!  

But I think that we need to take the "Airplane Oxygen Mask" style of evangelism.  Put on your mask first, and then help the person next to you!  John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement, wrote, "Indeed if thou canst save the soul of another, do; but at least save one, thy own."  Even if we cannot save anyone else, we can still ensure that we ourselves are saved by God's grace!  And I would dare say that we cannot save others until we ourselves have been saved!

So as we start this new year, let us first look at our own relationship with God.  Have we experienced the transforming power of Jesus' love?  Are we different people than we were before we became Christians?  

By wrestling with this ideas, I believe it will only aid our conversations with others, showing them how God's love has changed us, and how it can do the same for them.

Happy New Year,
Pastor Matthew 

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