Draw

Christ’s offer of forgiveness and his determination to identify with those who were outcasts or condemned brought many people to him. For example, Zacchaeus repented, when Christ took the first step of drawing near to him (Luke 19:1-10). After being moved by Christ’s revelation, the Samaritan woman, mobilized the whole village to hear Him for themselves. They then testified that He was indeed the Saviour of the world (John 4:1-42). When the religious crowd brought a woman caught in adultery, Jesus shielded her from shame and death by offering grace, hope, and dignity. (John 8:1-11)

Above all, Christ’s life on the earth was geared towards the cross when he ultimately gave his life away to provide salvation, forgiveness, pardon, redemption, and to be a ransom for many (Mat.. 20:28). His gift of salvation was for all the world, but the fullness of his presence, the power of God’s Holy Spirit, eternal life, the abundant riches of His blessing was reserved for those who believed ( John 3:16-17). Christ’s grace was (and continues to be) potent enough to raise wretches and those in bondage to serve along with him, not as His subjects or slaves but as His friends who reign with Him ( John 15:14-15; Eph. 2:3-6).

Serve with Power and Love

The key to disciple-making and becoming part of the church is experiencing God’s power, love, and service. It is hard to describe in a few lines the riches of His glorious inheritance, which has been freely given to all those who have believed. It can take more than a lifetime to grasp the plans God has for those who love Him. When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us, (James 4:8) hence the aspect of drawing, is part of an ever-growing cyclic process of God drawing near to us, even as we respond to Him, in the context of real-life situations of hardship, failure, sin, success, and victory.