Sent Into the World, April 1

Christians are quite skilled in isolation. Though Jesus challenged his followers to be in the world, it would seem that we have embraced just the opposite. Somewhere along the way we have decided that being separate from the world is best, but how can we fulfill the call of Christ to make disciples in his name if we do not engage the world? Nouwen makes the case that those who have been transformed by the love of Christ are best suited to live in this world for we have been freed by the power of love to be what God intended us to be. Nouwen writes, "...those who have entered into the spiritual life are precisely the ones who are sent into the world to continue to fulfill the work that Jesus began. The spiritual life does not remove us from the world, but leads us deeper into it." (p. 139) As we make God's word our home, we are truly freed to live for Christ no matter where we are. (John 8:31)

JKA