Three Questions

I’ve been thinking about some quick things to really ask Christians that I meet on campus when I get some time with them. This is what I’ve come up with. They’re really based off of the two commandments that Jesus gives: Love God, Love People. The second one is broken up into two points.

1) Are you loving God? 

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.
(Matthew 22:37-38 ESV)

This addresses the question of where they are in their relationship with Him. Are they actively seeking His face through reading, meditating upon His word, and through prayer? What are some struggles that I could be praying for for you? How are you striving to seek God more and more?

People pray for revival on campus all the time. Remember that revival starts within your own heart first.

2) How are you serving and reaching out to the Christian community at Cornell?

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

(1 Peter 2:16-17 ESV)

This address more of how people are spending their time with Christians around them. Are they being intentional with their time with their brothers and sisters or are they really just bumming around and not doing anything fruitful? Do you have some people that you’re accountable to? I believe that every Christian, no matter whether or not they’re a leader, should be serving in some way or capacity in a Christian community, be it at a fellowship setting or a church setting. If you’re being a bum, stop, and do something. Serve like the servant you’re called to be. It can be something small like helping to break down after the large group meeting or it can be on a larger scale like leading a small group. Serve the body of Christ in some way.

How are you reaching out to your brothers and sisters. It’s very easy for Christians to be putting on a mask in front of other believers especially when they’re dealing with something. It’s like we think everything’s always supposed to be awesome and sunny. It’s not. Brothers, keep an open eye for your brothers. Sisters, do likewise for your sisters. How are you loving them?

3) How are you serving and reaching out to the larger Cornell and Ithaca community?

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
(Mark 16:15 ESV)

Are you just taking up space on this campus, or are you being a blessing from God to the people around you. Can people give God the glory for having you in their lives? It can be something as simple as always holding doors for your friends. It can be going down to the soup kitchen and serving there every now and again. There’s tons of service projects on campus. A lot of Christians on campus will focus primarily on the first, and sometimes the second one also, but rarely do you see Christians focusing on this third point. They don’t think about it at all or don’t even think it necessary. You need to ask your self, if you and the rest of your Christian friends left campus, would anyone notice? Would the campus administrators notice the lack of volunteers at events, the lack of food drives, the lack of social justice events on campus?

How are you loving and reaching out to the people that surround you at Cornell. If you love God, it’s got to be a natural flow that you will not only love His people but also the people that He’s calling back to Himself. His will will be yours, and that is that no one would perish. How are you being intentional in reaching out and spending time with your non believing friends at Cornell?

Conclusion:

Love God, Love His people, Love those He is calling back. 

Are you living these three points out?