Reflecting the love and redemption of Jesus is the central theme of today's discussion. I explore how our daily lives can embody this message, emphasizing that God sent His Son not to condemn, but to save the world. We examine the significance of John 3:17 and how it challenges us to present our faith in a caring and inviting manner. I share insights from Jesus’ interactions, particularly with Nicodemus, highlighting the importance of love over guilt in our approach to others. By engaging in simple acts, like sharing meals, we can create environments that reflect Christ’s redemptive nature and foster connections that lead to hope and healing.

Takeaways:

• In this episode, I emphasize the importance of reflecting the love and redemption of Jesus in our everyday lives.
• We should focus on sharing the good news of salvation rather than pointing out others' wrongs.
• Potlucks and sharing meals are practical ways to express Jesus' love and care for others.
• The story of Nicodemus illustrates that Jesus came not to condemn, but to save and invite us into new life.
• It's essential to remember that the Holy Spirit's role is to convict of sin, while we share hope and joy.
• By engaging with others over food and fellowship, we create opportunities for meaningful connections and spiritual growth.

Welcome to the Hobo Soul Podcast of Road advised from the Bible and from me, Yvon Prehn, someone who's a little further down the road of life.

I'll talk to you every Tuesday and Thursday for about 10 minutes and if you'd like more in depth information on walking with Jesus, you can find that at my www.bible805.com website. For now, let's get started on our topic for today, which is

Episode number 67 -- Reflect the love and redemption of Jesus.

Our verse for today is for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. That's John 3:17. This verse is a caring challenge to how we present our faith through our everyday lives to those around us.

What is the overall tone of our life? What do people think about us, especially if we carry the label and Christian? Let's look at the life of Jesus for inspiration.

This verse is part of his talk with Nicodemus, the teacher of the Law, who came to Jesus at night asking questions. I wonder if Nicodemus might not have left more confused than when he arrived.

Here was a man people were calling a prophet, but he wasn't like any prophet that Nicodemus had ever heard of that went before Jesus. Jesus didn't call down fire from heaven. He turned water into wine at a wedding, good wine and quite a lot of it.

He didn't part the sea or send plagues. He played with children and set out picnics on the beach for his disciples.

When Nicodemus asked Jesus about his message, Jesus didn't retell the shortcomings of the world he'd come to straighten out. Instead, he told him that God loved the world and that he did not come to condemn, but to save. He didn't demand Nicodemus do penance for his sins.

He invited him to be born again. He didn't even scold Nicodemus for his cowardice in coming to Jesus at night. He graciously answered questions one at a time.

In a way this fearful leader needed. Our lives can reflect this redeeming nature of our Lord, but we might need to work on it a little bit.

For some reason it seems like it's easier to pile on guilt. Not that there's never a time to point out an error, but for the most part we do well to remember that it's the Holy Spirit's job to convict of sin.

John 16:7 9 tells us that it's our job to share the good news of salvation and the joy and fulfillment of living for Jesus instead of just telling people how wrong they are. Most people today know they fall short. They aren't quite sure of what, But a pervasive sense of guilt fills many lives.

Alcohol, drugs, food in excess, unhealthy relationships, and overwork are some common attempts to medicate the pain. People don't need more bad news from the followers of Jesus. They need examples of hope and love.

They need accurate directions to events that can change their lives and complete communications on what they need to do to mature in their Christian life. We need to pray for clarity in all we share.

We need to pray that our lives, even in ways that we may not be aware of, always reflect the welcoming, saving, redemptive love of Jesus. In practical terms, let's take some ideas out of Jesus playbook.

Here are some actions that might result in our lives if we do that first of all, simply have fun with people. One of my favorite ways of doing that is to eat together often.

Jesus was always doing that, and it's a wonderful way to follow him in the many ministries I've been involved with in my life. Number one, I love to do Bible teaching. I always do that. That's a priority with me. But close behind it is the ministry of potlucks.

Part of that's probably inspired by my Mennonite heritage, where church potlucks in the basement of Beamer Mennonite Church were a feast beyond the wildest imagination of any gourmet restaurant.

Slow simmered Mennonite brown beef and gravy served over fried potatoes, coleslaw with sweet cream dressing, fresh corn, layered salads, homemade rolls with lots of butter, side dishes of all sorts and pickles and all kinds of yummy little things. And then the pies. Oh my, the pies. Peach and apple and custard and all kinds of things.

Plus homemade lemonade and lots of strong black coffee to wash it all down.

My potlucks don't come close in the feast of foods that I shared with my Mennonite relatives, but they have the same heart in the joy of people simply getting together and eating things that may or may not go together but that are simply delicious because they're shared. As far as tips go for giving potlucks, I'd sum it up by just saying, simply relax and do them. My potlucks are very unorganized.

I never have had sign up sheets that X through Z needs to bring this or that or whatever, and it's always fun just to see what turns up. One time last year though, everyone, literally everyone in the group brought desserts. Needless to say, it was one of our most fun potlucks ever.

People don't need to cook. Let them know that many stores have deli sections, pre made, salads heat up entrees and bags of chips and cookies are always welcome.

Let people know it isn't the quality of the food, it's simply the sharing that is most meaningful and I always make it clear that it isn't required.

Everybody bring something and if you know some people in your group would be challenged if they brought even the smallest contributions, quietly let them know there will be plenty. Don't worry about it because there always is. While I mean practical, A few additional tips.

As a host, I do always sort of stack the deck in that I make sure that I have a big entree, chili or maybe just rotisserie chicken cut up and topped with barbecue sauce or something like that. I have a salad, I have fruit, I have, you know, get some, you know, Hawaiian rolls, whatever.

Just the bones of a meal in case what comes in is a little light that time. It seems like though, there's always enough and some for take for takeouts when people are ready to go home. But frankly, the food's never the focus.

You can't judge people when you're eating together. You can't be silent or palate or snarky when you're sharing a meal. At least I hope not.

Potlucks, eating together, having tea together, food and sharing of all sorts are just one of the ways we can express the love and redemption of Jesus. So try that. No matter what your age or situation, share a meal and invite someone for tea. Host a potluck.

It's one of the most redemptive ways you can reflect the love of Jesus to the people in your world.

That's all for this podcast, for transcripts, links to related material, and much more to help you learn to know, trust, apply and teach the Bible, go to www. Bible805 for now, let me end with this benediction and prayer.

May you walk each day surrounded by the gracious love of the Father, guided by the gentle wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and conscious of the astoundingly real presence of Jesus, who will walk with you until you're no more a hobo soul, no more a transient wandering ark, but at home in the kingdom prepared for you with your God forever. Amen.