Jesus Didn’t Wait—So Why Should We?
One of the clearest convictions God has laid on my heart is this: whatever we do as followers of Christ, it needs to look like Jesus. But if I’m honest, I know there have been too many times when I hoped that people would just “find their way” to God—maybe by coming to church, maybe by stumbling into a Christian conversation. It breaks my heart to admit it, but I’ve been guilty of waiting on the lost to come to us, instead of going to them.
But that’s not how Jesus works. He didn’t wait for me to clean up my life, or to walk through the doors of a church. He came to me, right where I was, in the middle of my darkness and confusion. Jesus stepped down from glory, entered our world, and brought His light into my mess, so that I could know the love of the Father.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12, ESV)
Children of the Light—With a Mission
If you belong to Jesus, you’re a child of the light. You know the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). But why do we, the ones who have been rescued from darkness, so often wait for others to make the first move? Why do we linger in comfort, hoping the hurting, the lost, the seeker will find their way to us?
The truth is, Jesus calls us to go. He says,
“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21, ESV)
That means leaving our comfort zones. It means stepping into the mess, the brokenness, the unknown. It means loving people first—before they have it all together, before they believe, before they ever visit a church.
Faith That Steps Out
If I’m honest, I haven’t always given God a good answer when He asks me to step out in faith. Sometimes, I hesitate to meet people’s needs because I’m not sure my own will be met. Sometimes, I wait, hoping it will get easier or safer or more convenient.
But that’s not the way of Jesus. He saw our need and came running. He moved toward the hurting, the outcast, the wandering.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10, ESV)
My prayer is that we, as Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, would be a church that goes—because Jesus went first.
“Be the Change” Means Going First
At Lakeview, our mission is to “Be the Change” as Jesus has changed us. That means we don’t simply wait for needs to come to us—we step out, trusting God to provide as we go. We’re called to bring the light of Christ to the world, not just to keep it burning inside these four walls.
Our “Just 3” Discipleship Path
Here’s how we live this out:
- Study to Love and Know God:
We can’t give what we don’t possess. We study Scripture, not simply for information but to be transformed by Jesus’ example and empowered by His Spirit.“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22, ESV) - Share to Know and Love Others:
Jesus didn’t just preach to crowds—He engaged with individuals, entering their stories. We share our lives, our hope, and our faith with others, starting conversations and building bridges even when it’s uncomfortable.“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, ESV) - Serve—Love in Action:
True faith always leads to action. We serve not just within the church, but in our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces. We meet needs, even when we’re unsure how ours will be met, believing God is able to provide.“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16, ESV)
Let’s Step Out Together
Church, let’s not wait for the world to walk through our doors. Let’s go, just as Jesus went for us. Let’s meet needs, offer hope, and shine light in dark places—confident that God will meet us as we move in faith.
At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we don’t just talk about change—we live it. Let’s Study, Share, and Serve, so others might know the love that found us.
