A Different WaySample

Have you ever been left out before? Maybe you didn’t get invited to a birthday party, or your friends did something fun without you. Or maybe you tried out for a team or a play and didn’t make the cut.

We’ve probably all experienced a time when we were left out in some way. When that happens, it feels pretty terrible. It makes us feel forgotten, excluded, unvalued, and unseen.

Jesus came into a world where a lot of people were feeling left out. And He brought with Him a different kind of community to belong to -- a community where everyone is invited to be a part, no matter what. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you have or what other people think about you. Anyone and everyone are welcome. You don’t have to earn your way in. Actually, you couldn’t even if you tried. The only way into God’s new community is through knowing and trusting His Son, Jesus.

Reflect:

1. What about this passage stood out to you?

2. According to this passage, who did Jesus come to share the Good News with?

3. Is there anyone in your life that you may have excluded in your life recently? What would it look like to invite them into your community?

Pray:

Thank Jesus for including you in His community. Ask Him if there is anyone in your life that you need to include in your community.