I found two thing in Chapter 5 reading that really spoke to me. The first was the story from the leprosarium in Korea.
A beautiful American nurse was tending the patients, and one visiting businessman commented to another that, if she was living in America, she could be making a good living, rather than having to work there with those who had leprosy. Another man in the group commented directly to the nurse that he wouldn't do what she she did for a million dollars. "Nether would I," she replied. But for the love of Jesus Christ she did.
The second was at the end of the chapter about attending church.
Many people attend church because they think they can get something out of it. Some attend because it will keep peace with someone else in their family who really wants to to go. Some think they're doing something they should do. Some even attend because being part of a certain congregation is good for their social standing or public image. Sadly, they're missing the point.
The church was created to help people know God and to walk in relationship with God. Everyone there is created in God's own image, thus it is only by experiencing others that we can experience all of God. Truly experiencing others means learning to love them. It means choosing to love them, and allowing them to love us in return.
It isn't always easy to be part of a church family, but I can tell you it's worth it. When we're willing to open our eyes to the beauty in others, all sorts of wonderful things happen. We begin to understand what love truly is, and just how very much God loves us. Enough to forgive us, to hold no record of our wrongs and to protect us. Enough to be patient with us and to be kind. A great example to follow, indeed.
My prayer of thanks is - Lord thank you for giving us new eyes to see ourselves and our church in new ways.
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