I recall a meeting I had with a Bank customer and, as part of our conversation, he told me he was an advertising executive. Our chat side-tracked to TV adverts, and I mentioned the one I thought was, at that time, the worst on TV. He then made an interesting comment, that “the makers of adverts are pleased if you love or hate them, it is the mediocre ones that do not produce a reaction that concerns them”. Reflecting on that statement recently, I can still recall the advert I disliked (is that better than hate?) and some readers may recall the offer of a 2-for-1 washing powder.
This challenged me to ask myself, and you the reader, if we might be described as “mediocre” Christians. As we read the Gospels and the book of Acts, we are soon made aware of the impact that Jesus and the apostles had on those around them. Even in at least one of the epistles, Paul referred to Christians who preferred one person over another. We may all have personal preferences for a preacher, a writer, or Christian hymns and songs and it may create an interesting debate. But what impression does my life and my conversation (or even driving) have on others of another faith or none?
One of our daily prayer guides includes this prayer every week. Many cannot afford to go to a hospital or clinic. Please pray for the mobile clinics, medical camps and home visits, as medical teams go out to give primary care to these communities. Pray that as they do so, something of the love of Jesus will touch the patients and this will give opportunity for the team to share the hope that the gospel brings.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in our daily service for you, wherever or whatever it may be, help us to show something of the love of Jesus. AMEN.