Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The text for today’s meditation is John 1:14

Last week we clarified that evangelism is "The spreading or broadcasting of the gospel." We also summed up the gospel, which is good news, in one verse, John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." We are to spread the Good News that we have been given a gift, the gift of eternal life given to us by Christ through His death and resurrection. We established that Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," is the church’s God given purpose. Evangelism, spreading the good news through relationships, is the means by which we make disciples. Our assignment was to practice being sent. We were to practice being sent across the fence, street, and a boundary. So, how did we do? Does anyone have an experience they feel led to share?

Being sent is only half of the equation. Along with being sent goes embodying the Word, in other words "to take on flesh." Let your being sent take on flesh. Notice in our text it says the word became flesh, Jesus is the word. He also dwelt among us. The Greek word means literally to set up a tent. I saw another translation I really like, it said He moved into the neighborhood. How about that, can your sentness move into your neighborhood and dwell among the people?

Our being sent is the "to go" part of the equation and the embodiment as the "how." Some people feel a real strong sense of being sent and they have the right motives but the wrong execution. The how is revealed in the word. We are sent together against abortion but what is the how? Are we embodying the word if we bomb abortion clinics or volunteer to counsel pregnant teens? Are we embodying the word if we stand on the street corner with a megaphone preaching fire and brimstone to people we have no relationship with or when we ask the clerk at the store how their day is going and really mean it. We can hurt Christianity more than help it if we don’t embody the word. The how is the complete embodiment of the word including your posture, tone, motives, and your heart. The how of being sent is critical because it will eventually determine whether or not people will want to know you or your Father in heaven.

I have a question for you. Did you set aside some "spiritual" time to do the assignment or did you take advantage of situations that popped up? Did you force it or find that God put opportunities "along the way"? If there were opportunities along the way did you take advantage of them or hurry along? Let’s look at Acts 3 verses 1-7;

"Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ² And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. ³ Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. ⁴ And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." ⁵ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong." Notice Peter and John embodied the word along the way. They could have just passed on by. Are we expecting God to work during our "spiritual time" such as during the sermon, prayer time, bible study, or worship service? Jesus embodied the word out on the streets. He was the word while sitting around tables, on a hillside, walking along the road, standing on the shore, or at a well. He was the word to people "along the way." Embodyment of the word speaks to our posture, our timing, and how much of our time we give people before we ever share the gospel with them. Embodying the word also speaks to where we are the word to people. We need to follow Jesus’ example, we need to embody the word out there, with people along the way in the course of their normal lives.

In order to meet people in the course of their normal lives we have to be aware of the people around us. We can walk through life with blinders on. We become so concerned for whatever we are doing that it seems like we execute our day with military focus and precision. Your assignment for this week comes in two parts. Part one is to spend some time somewhere that is very busy. Go to Subway at Wal-Mart or in the coffee shop at Unclaimed Baggage. Sit still or walk around the store and look at the faces that go past you. Imagine some of the things that might make up their life stories: sadness, abuse, abandonment, broken relationships, sexual mistakes, unemployment fears, lack of purpose, searching for God. Take a few minutes and pray for them. Part two of your assignment is to bless one person, without any strings attached and without trying to talk about God or getting any acknowledgement; then reflect on how your heart felt. What if you could live a life of blessing? How might you be different? How might it develop street credibility if every Christian lived this way?

God works along the way. But His love for you was not just along the way. He intentionally went to the cross for you. He intentionally suffered and died and rose again for you to forgive your sins and give you the gift of eternal life. This is what we are spreading. This is what we are embodying. Allow for interruptions in your day. Look for when the Holy Spirit puts people along your way for you to talk to or help. Embrace the interruption. Be sent and embody the word!

Amen.