Council elections loom this Saturday and an interesting theme in the language of several candidates is the idea of ‘loving Lismore’. I suppose it’s the idea that there’s something more important than just politics and roads and parks a
nd… it’s about love. Love for people. Love for this city.
As we build towards mission in 2009 we need to remember that it’s definitely all about love. The ultimate in love: the cross of Christ. So, we need to step forward knowing that God’s people are uniquely placed to ‘love Lismore’. Not because of us, but because of Him.
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. The apostle Paul wrote “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8. The apostle John wrote, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” 1 John 3:16.
It’s all about love. The greatest love. The only love that brings forgiveness and life and hope. Let’s love Lismore with the love that really matters.
I’ll be posting some ideas over coming days and weeks about how we can go about doing that, especially as we build towards our year of mission. I’ll be keen to hear what you think. But let’s keep praying that our great motive in life will be the honour of Jesus and that many more people in Lismore would know his great love.
I reckon its important to remember too that loving Lismore is something that we can and should be doing TOGETHER as well as in our own individual relationships. One thing we’ve been thinking about a bit amongst the staff team is spending more time outside and in public places whenever possible just to raise the profile of a group of people who enjoy each other’s company in all sorts of settings and who don’t think its weird to read the Bible in public, pray in public etc. etc. Its not necessarily “evangelism” but its an important part of promoting the gospel in our town.