Starting With Love
March 2024
Chances are you have heard me say, “Behind every screen is a person. Behind every person is a story—and that story matters to God.”
As we work to radically accelerate the fulfillment of the Great Commission across all audiences, we’re motivated by our love for Jesus and our love for people. We follow in Jesus' footsteps as we engage with people in light of who they are and the story that has brought them where they are today.
Jesus didn’t engage with everyone the same way every time. He had a mission and a purpose that reflected His love for people. He made each of us one of a kind, and he invites us into an intimate relationship that reflects our uniquenesses.
One of our greatest challenges in ministry is to keep our focus on our love for people. In our efforts to accomplish the mission, do our jobs well, and reach our goals, we can give in to the temptation to put ourselves and our accomplishments at the center rather than allowing the love of Jesus to flood our hearts and compel us to love the people He’s called us to reach.
Do you see the difference? If I love people, I won’t find my identity in how they respond to my evangelistic strategies. I will try to understand them better and let the Holy Spirit guide me in expressing His love to them through our interactions. If I love people, I will have patience in our interactions. I will look for ways to help them understand the love of Jesus and give them space to respond to His invitation in their time. I will not give up on them or walk away if they disagree or even respond rudely to me.
What does this kind of love look like in the digital world? It can be tempting to blast out our message and hope that it makes a difference in people’s lives, but that does not communicate the heart of Jesus. Instead of centering our strategies and messages, we can start with love. As we cultivate a heart for Jesus and continue to make space for Him, His love will move us to love people. We will begin to pray for the people in our missional gaps and for the followers of Jesus who are not yet multiplying disciples. We will take a posture of curiosity to learn more about these people and pray that God will move in their hearts and change their lives. We will understand the painful experiences that have resulted in walls of resistance to God’s love. We will relate to their dreams and desires for themselves and those they love. And we will move towards them with kindness and mercy to help them experience the love of Jesus in words and terms that speak to their hearts. We will invite them into a relationship with Jesus and connect them with people close to where they are—geographically and culturally. They will experience God’s love through us and have the opportunity to join a movement of people who love Jesus and love people like they have been loved.
What a joy it is to be a part of God’s family and His mission! Digital Strategies allows us to make this kind of love available to anyone, anywhere, anytime they want to be a part of it. I can’t wait to share more with you about new ways we can help you love people God has called you to reach more effectively. Stay tuned!
