Every month I join with others around the world in writing about a common theme or idea. This month, we want to focus on some of our plans for serving others in 2013. We are doing this, not to brag about how we serve others, but to hopefully provide some ideas and suggestions for one another on how we can show the love of Jesus to those in our neighborhoods and towns.
So here are a few of the ways I and my family are seeking to serve others in 2013.
Getting to Know the Neighbors
You may not realize it, but no matter where you live, there are people all around you who experience great pain, turmoil, and difficulty in life. It may be marital problems, child-rearing problems, financial problems, work problems, health problems, or a combination of all these.
As a follower of Jesus, you have been placed in your neighborhood to be a beacon of light, hope, restoration, and redemption to the people around you. We do not live where we live just so we have a place to park our car at night and sleep. Each of us is an ambassador of Jesus Christ and the Reign of God to those around us. We are there to love and serve.
Getting to know your neighbors is not easy though. It takes time, effort, and even some money. I am not an expert at this, but am learning from people who are, such as my wife, and my friend Sam, who has written a great series of posts on this very subject.
In our case, we were recently invited to a Christmas party at a guys house down the road from us, and met many people in our neighborhood. If people on your block throw parties like this, go! Yes, even if there is drinking and coarse language! GO! If they don’t throw parties like this, throw one of your own. Have a BBQ for people on your street, or at least take plates of cookies or fresh-baked bread over to them to introduce yourself and begin to develop that relationship with them which will eventually provide the freedom and opening for them to share their fears and struggles with you. And when that happens, respond with love and care, not with judgmentalism and criticism.
Serve the Poor and Needy
Another thing we are doing this year is getting involved with the poor and needy in our area. We have found two homeless shelters near us, and are taking steps to volunteer there.