“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

— ROMANS 12:2 (THE MESSAGE)

Our culture has created a “must-have” generation. We are consumed with the middle-class dream of personal wellbeing and comfort. With the convenience of extended credit we can buy what we want today and, hopefully, pay for it later. Money and possessions define who we are. We have become inwardly focused.

But God wants us to focus on him. He wants us to show ruthless compassion which will bring out the best in us and change us to become more like him.

This summer at our kids’ soccer camp, we challenged our small group of children to think about kids in another country who did not have soccer balls or cleats or even T-shirts. We asked them to gather up some change and see if we, as a small group, could make a difference. I threw in a handful of spare change while several of the children showed great maturity by going home
and taking out all of the money from their piggy banks to make a difference in a child’s life across the world.

I, who have so much, gave a handful of coins, while these children who have been saving their pennies and nickels and dimes for something special gave everything. Have I bought into today’s culture? Where is my heart? Where is my generosity and willingness to sacrifice?

We need to see the world through the eyes of our children. They were able to see beyond what they wanted in order to give freely and thus make a difference in the lives of children who they may never meet. It’s time for some ruthless compassion, adults.

SCRIPTURE TO REFLECT ON: ROMANS 12 (THE MESSAGE)

1. When have you seen your kids, or your friends’ kids, outdo you in joyful generosity? Was your response to encourage them—and be more generous yourself—or to damper their excitement?

2. Whom can you have a dialogue with about “ruthless compassion” this week?

Jan Gray is National Children’s Ministry Coordinator for the C&MA in Canada. Children’s Ministry is an important part of the C&MA mandate to create a chain of discipleship that reaches the youngest members of our Alliance churches.

Note:  Club 57 kids at Mission Alliance Church will surely move you with an incredible story of inspiration – watch how one simple idea multiplied to inspire a community.

“The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord.” — NUMBERS 15:15

Immigration statistics will never motivate us to welcome the foreigner into Canada or into the family of Christ. Something more fundamental has to occur.

Most churches and individual Christians, I would hope, aspire to be welcoming to newcomers to Canada. However, moving from mere aspiration to tangible welcome first requires some honesty around our thinking. How we think impacts how we act (Romans 12:2).

We begin at the beginning. The creation story establishes that God created all humans “in his own image” (Genesis 1:27). He makes absolutely no distinctions of value among people when it comes to his love. He expects us to treat others similarly. Note that Israel, the exclusively set-apart people of God, was commanded not only to take in the foreigner but to treat them with respect and equality (Numbers 15:15; Deuteronomy 10:19).

Now think about who you see when meeting an immigrant. “In his own image” means you are to see them as created with the same value as you, and therefore equally deserving of respect, no matter if they have reconciled with God through Jesus Christ or not. This is because in Christ we do not evaluate others using the world’s standards such as ethnicity, religion, morality, or economic status (2 Corinthians 5:16). All are of inherent worth to him and therefore to us. When we view others as persons created in his image, we have common ground from which to start a relationship.

Here’s a simple initial step to move from right thinking to right action: Be a good neighbour. The basic act of neighbourliness empowered by the Gospel message will not only be a positive welcome into Canada, but an introduction to another “immigrant,” Jesus Christ. We were all foreigners at one point. He welcomed us.

SCRIPTURE(S) TO REFLECT ON: GENESIS 1; NUMBERS 15:15; DEUTERONOMY 10:19

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What does it mean to have inherent worth?
In what ways are we made in his image?

2. Is your church welcoming to newcomers to Canada?
Is your family?
Are you?

Harv Matchullis is Facilitator of Encompass Partnerships in Calgary, AB. Encompass is a mission agency designed for partners who are focused on taking the Gospel to the ends of the city where it has not yet gone or gained full expression. Harv’s passion comes from a ministry career of starting new ventures in Canada and internationally. Frontiers still exist.

Noteworthy Resources: For further information on how you can respond to newcomers to Canada, Harv has written a fabulous document for Encompass Partnerships called PARTNERING TO REACH THE NATIONS AMONG US. You may also feel led to check out information on how to become involved in refugee sponsorship; feel free to contact Alliance Justice and Compassion by email or visit www.justiceandcompassion.com/canada-initiatives/refugee-sponsorship

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to live in peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

— COLOSSIANS 3:15–17

When we consider our purpose—to stand for justice and respond to the lost and needy with compassion—we must do all, both word and deed, in Jesus’ name. What does this mean?

It surely must mean that as we speak and as we act, we do so in conformance with his will. The apostle Paul warned the people of Corinth of works that are useless for God’s kingdom—just wood, hay, and stubble, or works that are like a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

How do we serve our neighbourhood and community differently? How can whatever we do, whether in word or deed, be done in Jesus’ name? By having the mind of Christ. By discerning his plan, purpose, and perspective. By living at peace with one another, and letting God’s Word dwell in us richly.

Paul told the Ephesian church that, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). So surely we must inquire of him, asking, “What good works have you assigned to me?” while understanding that God’s plan for the world is to bring glory to himself.

All that we do must be done as we walk closely with our Saviour, listen to his voice, and love as he loves. Let us love humbly in his name, and always for his glory.

SCRIPTURE TO REFLECT ON:  COLOSSIANS 3:15–17

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What effect do our words and deeds have if not done in Jesus’ name and for God’s glory? Are they still worth doing, even when not for the right reasons?

2. Has God commissioned you to do some specific “good works”? Are you regularly asking him what he has for you to do?

Rev. Eunice Smith has served with the C&MA for more than sixty years in Ecuador. In June 2013, Eunice became the first woman ordained through The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.