Lavish Love

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7, NASB.

One of the common sacrifices that Pacific Rim workers make is leaving family members behind who do not yet know the LORD, or have walked away from the LORD. Derek’s* older brother knew the LORD, but had made some unfortunate life decisions and walked away from God and the church. Derek longed for his older brother to come back to the LORD, but from such a great distance he knew that his influence was limited.

God knew Derek’s heart cry, and in His lavish love sent a volunteer from the same area where the wayward brother currently lived. As Derek shared with this visiting pastor he discovered the possible link. The more he shared the more excited he became. The pastor not only knew the area where Derek’s brother lived, he also knew many of his brother’s friends!

“You just might be the man to reach my brother,” said Derek. The pastor readily agreed to visit Derek’s brother as soon as he got back to the United States. It is very possible that the main reason that God had for this volunteer coming half way around the planet was to learn about a backslidden Christian who lived just a block away.

When you consider such extravagant love, it is not hard to understand why God calls people to sacrificially go to the unreached of the world so that they too can understand God’s amazing love.

*Name changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

God will draw unbelieving or backslidden family members of Pacific Rim workers to Himself by whatever means He deems necessary.

God will call more workers to leave family, home and country to take the lavish message of His love to the nations.

This visiting pastor will connect with Derek’s brother and bring about reconciliation with the LORD.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.