Tuesday, January 23, 2024

My favorite thing about living in a small town is getting to know the people. As an outsider, working at my local school for many years definitely helped me meet new people. On the other hand, my coworkers—who grew up in the town and whose families had been there for generations—often shared all the small-town family gossip with me, which was a disadvantage. Their thoughts and beliefs often shaped my own.

Jesus and his disciples would have similarly been seen as outsiders. As they were welcomed into Matthew's home, the established, self-righteous hypocrites began to gossip and judge.

Matthew 9:10-11
¹⁰ Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. ¹¹ But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

There are always people who gossip, pass judgements, or just don’t share the same passions as us. I have to admit some guilt in this area.

Thankfully, being a part of CedarCreek helped me grow. It wasn’t until I started to grow my relationship with God, study his Word, and better understand Jesus' mission that my heart and eyes were opened and I could see the sinfulness of gossip and judgment.

Jesus met me where I was and, thankfully, didn’t leave me there. And through his teachings, I am learning to listen to people and accept them where they are too. I have stopped listening to others’ preconceived beliefs and stopped participating in their gossip. God gave me a passion for people and for sharing the Good News about the saving power of Jesus, and that’s only possible through open and honest communication.

Preconceived ideas about other people hinder our ability to reach out to them and become a bridge for them to the Lord. Yes, connecting on a public level can leave you vulnerable. It’s definitely easier to stay in our own little huddles with people we’re comfortable with, but is that living out our commission?

The next time Jesus speaks to you through a devotional, a song, a piece of scripture, or even during a conversation and reminds you to reach out, do it! With Jesus by your side, you can’t go wrong.

Questions:
Do you find yourself thinking, “I would never talk to those people”? Do you engage in gossip? Do you fear getting to know new people?

Next Steps:
Start a conversation with someone you don’t know. A great way to do this is by striking up a conversation before or after service with someone sitting around you whom you haven’t met.

Join a CedarCreek Group.

Plan to attend Prayer and Worship Night at your campus on 1/28 from 5:30-6:30pm.

21 Days of Prayer: Day 16—Closeness (James 4:8)
Today’s Prayer Focus: To Come Close to God

Prayer:
Dear God, you have promised if I draw near to you, you will draw near to me. I need more of your strength and presence today. I am drawing near to you through prayer, worship, and your Word. I open my heart to you and ask you to be near to me, growing me to be more like you. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

2 Peter 1:3
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

This post was written by Julie Estep, a regular contributor of the Living it Out.