Don’t you love Jesus?

His intentionality was off the charts! He went out of His way, traveling through sick-ridden Samaria to meet the woman at the well. He crossed the Sea of Galilee through a storm to deliver a man of demons. He found the man by the pool of Bethesda and started up a conversation with him, saying, “Do you want to be made well?” (Jn. 5:1–15 NIV) He decided He would dine at the tax collector Zacchaeus’ house. He was bold and brazen. The list goes on…

Jesus saw the opportunity to touch a person, and He jumped on it! Jesus went to those everyone avoided and not only loved them but set them free. Jesus had compassion and pity for those struggling, and He moved with prayer and power.

Scripture tells us, “Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.” (1 Jn. 2:6)
Does this sound like a tall order?

Indeed, it is! Not only are we to be with people this season, but we are to bring Jesus to them. The goal is that—as they encounter us, they encounter Him.

How are we to do this?

1 Peter 4:11 says, “Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.” (NLT)

We shine the light of Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27), as we boldly allow Him to move through us.

For instance, if we are speakers, perhaps we call out the gold in the family member before us. We acknowledge the beauty of how God made them and what is so precious about them. Perhaps we encourage them in a calling that seems to be budding in their life. Or we pray as they share a difficult struggle. Either way, we boldly speak as God would—not doubting but believing God will work and gain glory through our words, and fully knowing our faith moves mountains.

In the other case, if we have a gift of helping, maybe our smile is so big and the glimmer in our eye so large that people can feel the very presence of God and a heart of love emanating from us. This speaks greater volumes than our words ever could. God is at work.

Whatever we do, when we boldly do it, knowing that God’s power and our hearts are in it—God shows up. Miracles happen. People wonder. Prayers are answered. God is present. Conversations open up. Joy is felt. Family is inclined to know more.

Bold listening is also a powerful gift. Jesus listened well. People long to feel heard, known, and loved. We have the ability to give them this gift this season.

More than preaching is releasing Christ in us, the hope of all glory! We believe for them—that God is able. We pray—knowing that God can do all things. We speak, releasing the heart of God for others.

Just as the boldness of Jesus allowed people to encounter Jesus, our boldness today is how our family will encounter Him today.

At family gatherings…
Who can you identify that is in need?
How can you bring godly healing?
What can you say that Jesus’ heart of freedom and love would be saying?
What can you help with that shows God’s great strength within you?

It is not what we say or what we know that most shows Jesus, but how we love and how we step out for Him that speaks volumes. This season of life, let’s walk as Christ walked, in boldness!

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