Attention Conveying appropriate interest, concern, and care; taking notice of others and making an effort to enter into their respective worlds. (1 Corinthians 12:25 NASB) Attention to the Family of God
Several years ago a friend came to our home in Atlanta for a celebration gathering for him and those with whom he worked in a church-based divorce recovery ministry. As he came in the door, he got very quiet, and he was not normally a very quiet person. He walked down a hall toward the living area where people were gathering. All the way he acted as though he were walking on eggshells, then he looked at me or rather through me as he continued to look around and softly said, “I have never been in a pastor’s home before.”
It struck me as funny, as though he were kidding me, but it wasn’t funny to him and he was not kidding. He indicated that my being a pastor put me a different category, perhaps a higher one than he. He reminded me of how I had felt about being in a teacher’s home or seeing a teacher at a grocery store when I was a kid. I was surprised to see teachers in jeans or sweats!
I hope my friend learned, as our service together continued through the next several years, that I am just a person with no more value or no less than he. In fact, he was very effective in his service to people recovering from the tragedy of divorce. He cared deeply for others.
God placed us in the body of Christ, the Church, and each of us has specific gifts, callings, and roles in this Body. Each is essential to the working of the body and the love that unifies it. Would you walk with us this week to see if God would show us our value even more clearly and how to enter the world of others in the Body of Christ to convey their worth in this forever family called “The Church”?
THREE SOURCES OF LIGHT – Help Us Meet the Need of Attention in the Church
Light Source #1: Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:32) Walking in the Light: Experiencing God’s Love and Giving It Away (Attention)
Let’s Walk in the Light of Fresh Encounters with Jesus
It is apparent that many of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did believe they were more important to God than the common people. Reading the New Testament, especially the Gospels, reveals their pride, greed, and their manipulative practices to keep power. Do you recall any of the stories of Jesus having “meetings” where these religious leaders were present? Most of the times Jesus healed, provided for, taught, or traveled, these guys (the Sadducees, Pharisees, teachers of the law, priests) were somewhere close by not having a good day. Their days were filled with conflict, because Jesus was many of “their rules”.
In reading the Gospel of John, it seems obvious to me that Jesus loved those men, spending time explaining and illustrating the heart of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He entered their world to win them and showed care, but most of those leaders would not enter His even after many clear invitations.
But, not all of them were that way or remained in that trap. Acts 6:7 conveys that, “The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith”. Would you think about the answer to this question? “What might it have been like for a priest responsible for Jesus’ conviction before the Sanhedrin the night He was betrayed when he came to realize Jesus was Messiah? What might he have felt, thought, or done as he came to grips with his error, its consequences, and the love found from the very same Jesus who accepted, loved, and forgave him?
You and I are not and were not priests of Jesus’ day. However, we are still responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion because His death was for our sin. Would you close your eyes, invite Jesus to speak with you, then ask Him to reveal how He feels about those priests who came to Him in faith and about you, who have received His gift of mercy and righteousness?
Light Source #2: God’s Word is a “Lamp and Light” (Psalm 119:105)
Walking in the Light: Experiencing God’s Love and Giving It Away (Attention)
Let’s Do the Book: I Corinthians 12: 25: This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26: If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
I know the Light Source #1 discussion was heavy, but it is vital that you and I enter the world of others …or at least try….as we serve those in the church. Jesus showed deep, appropriate care. Some welcomed Him. Some rejected Him. Prayer Request: Please take a moment and ask God who in the family of faith (local congregation or on the other side of the world) needs your attention and care. After you have a name or some names, ask God how you can meet their need for attention.
A pastor/leader on your list may need for someone to initiate a time to just visit, talk, play golf, do something fun, and stay away from addressing anything “heavy” unless he/she brings it up.
A teacher you know may need to be “known” deeply enough by you to discover what his/her world actually is like. After some time together, you may discover a specific way that the teacher can be served, shown love, and given care that meets real needs.
God may lead you to a person/family that has no leadership role at all. Maybe there is someone you notice Sunday after Sunday at church, who seems to have no friends. As you are made aware of their existence, perhaps God wants you to attempt to enter their world to engage them and get to know them.
While you are together with that person to whom God directed you, you may have the chance to “Do the Book” and celebrate, encourage, comfort, appreciate, and get to know him/her. You get to help them be “a little less alone”, and that is a great thing.
Remember Jesus was accepted by some and rejected by many…and they were “church people” too. We don’t control outcomes, but we do have choices to enter or not enter the world of those around us…especially in the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10)
Light Source #3: Followers of Jesus are called the “Light of the World” (Matt 5:14)
Walking in the Light: Experiencing God’s Love and Giving It Away (Attention)
Attention – Conveying appropriate interest, concern, and care; taking notice of others and making an effort to enter into their respective worlds. (1 Corinthians 12:25 NASB)
Let’ Have Some Real Fellowship as a Couple, Family or with another Christ-follower!
1. When you prayed about the person/family to engage, to whom did God lead you?
2. Is this person someone you should meet with alone, with your spouse, or by involving your family?
3. Once the plan is made perhaps you could get with your spouse, kids, or the whole family and pray about God’s working to help you enter the world of the person of focus and truly show God’s love and care. This is not a project but an opportunity to meet a need and create some friendships.
4. When the time together with the person/family happens or even if it doesn’t (remember, we don’t control outcomes), come together to thank God for that person or family. If you did get together, thank Him for allowing you to enter the world of another person and remove aloneness. In entering the world of another and showing appropriate care, many times our own needs are met though that was not our original intention or motivation.
5. Question for family, couple, or individual consideration: What might the atmosphere of a church become, if members paid “attention” and entered the world of others on a regular, intentional basis in order to meet needs and develop relationships?
Top 10 Relational Needs* (examples in scripture)
Acceptance – Receiving others willingly and unconditionally (even when their behavior has been imperfect) and loving them in spite of any differences that may exist between you. (Romans 15:7)
Affection – Expressing care and closeness through physical touch and through words such as “I love you” or “I care about you.” (Romans 16:16) (Mark 10:16)
Appreciation – Expressing thanks, praise or commendation, particularly in recognition of someone’s accomplishments or efforts. Gratefully acknowledging what someone “does.” (Colossians 3:15b; 1 Corinthians 11:2)
Approval (Blessing) – Building up or affirming another person, particularly for who they are (as opposed to what they do); affirming both the fact and the importance of our relationship with another person.( Ephesians 4:29; Mark 1:11)
Attention – Conveying appropriate interest, concern, and care; taking notice of others and making an effort to enter into their respective worlds. (1 Corinthians 12:25 NASB)
Comfort – Caringly responding to a hurting person through words, actions, emotional responses, and physical touch; hurting with and for others in the midst of their grief or pain. (Romans 12: 15 NASB; Matthew 5:4: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
Encouragement – Urging others to persist and persevere in their efforts to attain their goals; stimulating others toward love and good deeds. (1Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24)
Respect – Valuing one another highly, treating one another as important, and honoring one another with our words and actions. (Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 2:17)
Security – (Peace) Establishing and maintaining harmony in our relationships and providing freedom from fear or threat of harm through expressions of vulnerability, deepening of trust, and the successful resolution of conflict. (Romans 12:16,18)
Support – Coming along side others and providing gentle, appropriate assistance with a problem or struggle. (Galatians 6:2)