Longer days, warmer weather, and the sound and smell of grills filled with various cuts of beef, pork, and mystery meat hotdogs (personally – not a fan of this last one) are some of the reminders that summer is here. With those longer and more relaxed evenings and later bedtimes come opportunities to enjoy and even celebrate many of the things we hold dear. But how do we make these days count in terms of Kingdom value?
Recently I heard an interview with R.C. Sproul near the end of his life as he evaluated his life and, with much remorse, stated that he had wasted more time than ten men. He was referring to the fact that when he was first saved, he devoted himself to telling everyone about Jesus and imploring them to follow Christ too. But over the years he had “matured,” and that evangelistic fervor had waned and, at times, disappeared. It has, in some ways, caused a crisis moment for me as I consider how I have wasted so much time on lesser things. I have spent some time evaluating how much I need to engage in simply imploring others to follow Christ too.
With more flexibility and fewer excuses than other times of the year, what if every family at Eastmont fired up a grill or turned on an ice cream maker (or both) and invited an unchurched neighbor over for dinner or dessert? What if we spent our time and energy getting to know them and sharing the hope we’ve found in Christ? What if we encouraged them to see and follow Christ with us too? What if our initiative in going is exactly what the Lord will use to see someone in our lives come and follow Christ with us? Well, then, that is what I would say would make these days count in terms of Kingdom value.
Eastmont family, let us not miss the opportunities before us this summer in making much of Christ by sharing the hope of Christ with our neighbors and friends.
So who are you inviting over?