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Building One Another


E. Stanley Ott

COME! Vol 9 No 5

February 2, 2010

Dear Friend,

How do you feel about asking someone to be with you in some endeavor?  I assume the answer depends on whom you are inviting and what you are asking them to do.

 

It is one thing to ask someone close to you, a family member or a friend, to share a meal or go to a movie or go for a walk on a pretty day.  It may be more challenging for you to ask the same person to attend a worship service or growth event at church or to join you in a service project.

 

It could be even more challenging if the person you would invite is someone you don’t know so well.

 

Consider the many invitations Jesus offered to people to “come” to be with him.

 

Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.’” Matthew 4:18-19 The Message

 

What is clear is that Jesus looked people in the eye and said, “Come!”

 

Do you?

 

Jesus also made this remarkable statement about we who follow him as his disciples:  A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher.” Luke 6:40*

 

Since Jesus looked people in the eye and said, “Come,” let us do so as well.  Put your anxiety aside, trust him, look people in the eye and invite them to come with you that you may grow in friendship, faith and service together.

 

With joy - E. Stanley Ott

Copyright 2010 E. Stanley Ott

*Scripture from the NRSV