I’ve seen an ongoing theme this week of the sad reality of cliques, the need for genuine spiritual fellowship and for Christians to reach out to others. All too often we get comfortable with our little circle and weeks or months can go by with us only talking to them, being wrapped up in our own little world. We can get so focused in on ourselves and our life that we never reach out.

But God has called each of His children to not only look out for the interests of others (Phil. 2:4) but to be always proclaiming the the hope that they have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15). Between those two we should always be reaching out to those around us, both Christians we see on a regular basis and also the unsaved around us–maybe a family member, neighbor, coworker or someone at school. We are called to reach out!

My husband wrote a poignant blog entry from Matthew 5:47 called Greeting Like Pagans–What happens when we only love those who love us. As a high school youth pastor he has come to hate the cliques that seem to plague young people. But it isn’t hard to see that this superficial approach to others is not unique to teenagers, but really is a common pit for most everybody.

Bobby says–

Imagine if God treated us how we act towards others. What if He only showed love to those who loved Him?

God loved us when we were his enemies, when we were in sin against Him. We need to love others like this, looking for ways to take the initiative in conversation.

I can think of many reasons why we don’t reach out to others like this. Maybe they will just think we are being nosey, we don’t know what questions to ask, we are intimidated or maybe if we were honest we just don’t really care about others that much.

Before Women’s Retreat I was challenged by a mentor to reach out to others at the retreat. She gave me a list of ideas that would help me do this and by the end of the weekend I had been able to do them all. They aren’t difficult, really they were simple ways to put others above myself. But reaching out to others isn’t something we should just do at a retreat or at church. Caring for others enough to reach out to them should characterize us. Here are some of the ideas on that list from my friend. I hope you will try to do one or two of them this weekend!

1. Look for people who are sitting alone, especially someone you don’t know. Sit with them and strike up a conversation.
2. Say growth oriented and purposeful things. Use your words to spur others on to more maturity in their walk with God.
3. Use your interaction as a catalyst for praying together. When someone asks you to pray for them seize the moment, take them aside and pray right then.
4. Stay 15 minutes longer than you intended or normally feel comfortable with…making yourself available to others.
5. Regularly plan to get together with people for a meal, invite them over or meet for coffee so you can get to know them better.