How do we "P.A.R.T.N.E.R." in reaching out in our community with the Good News of Jesus?"  First we "P"--Pray Together.  Then we "A"-Appeal to Common Interests.  Then we "R"--Reach Out in Love.  Reaching out in love offers the MOTIVE for our outreach.  We don't reach out to others because God said we have to.  We don't do it because we're better than others -- we're definitely not!  We reach out because God loved us first, and calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Here's how the Apostle Paul put it:  "Because we loved you, we were happy to share not only God's Good News with you, but even our own lives." 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NCV) 

Why did Paul and his missionary team love the Thessalonians? The love came BEFORE they had ever, even met them!  Paul and his team loved the Thessalonians because once God's love comes into our lives we start becoming like Him.  God IS love, and therefore, God loves everyone.  We all remember John 3:16-- For God so loved THE WORLD--that's everyone--that He gave HIs one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  We love others, because God first loved us!

Have you ever noticed that it's easier to love EVERYONE than it is to love EACH ONE of God's people?  We all have folks in our lives who are challenging to love. (Sometimes it's the one who looks back at us from the mirror!) Yet, because of God's love for us, we are called to love each one, and to share "not only God's Good News" with them, but "even our own lives."  It takes both.  Words and actions.  The words without the actions are just words.  The actions without the words are just good deeds, not the Good News!

Think of someone in your sphere of influence: a friend, a coworker, a relative, someone at school whom you know who doesn't know Jesus.  How can you show that person the love of God in words and actions TODAY?  Today is the key.  If we put it off until tomorrow or the next day, we may never do it.  As Paul put it to the Corinthian believers--TODAY is the day of salvation.  At least I pray it is for someone in our spheres of influence, don't you?  Take a moment right now, to stop and pray, to ask God to open the heart of the person who came to mind, and to give you courage to act AND speak to him or her about Jesus.   Our love moves us to reach out--that's the motive, and it's the means for reaching out, too.  And since we're talking about reaching out together, get someone else to pray with you about it.  Get someone to be with you as you approach the person.  We are ALWAYS better together!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving us and for showing that love in the powerful action of Jesus' death on the cross in our place!  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may reach out in love to those around us today who don't know you.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.