Ripple Effect
But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
Luke 4:43
Jesus’ focus from the beginning of His ministry was that direct. The people were loving the healing miracles; whereas, telling as many as He could the good news of the kingdom was why He was sent.
And that’s the responsibility we have today. Yes, what may be known about God should be plain to everyone, for since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (Romans 1:19-20). Adam and Eve were privy to the pure joy of that divine intimacy in the garden. Jesus is evident everywhere if only we’d look. But it requires that hint of divinity for eyes to see.
So how can we, who have seen the glory of God, pass it on? The parables of the kingdom are loaded with lessons. Take the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7), the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10), and the lost son (Luke 15:11-32). In each instance it was love that put everything aside for what was lost.
And doesn’t Jesus say, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’…and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these” (Matthew 22:37-40).
Let’s call it the ripple effect. As a pebble skipped on a pond sends waves in a myriad of directions, so may our lives filled with love reach everyone we come in contact with.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.
Be imitators, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love,
just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
—Ephesians 4:32-5:2
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day (Proverbs 4:18).
Nancy P
All Scripture quotations are from the NIV Translation 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted.
