It’s a daily battle for our attention, friends. Do we engage at the face-to-face level with those we meet? Truthfully, there is much we can benefit from all of the technology God has made available to us through human creativity, yet we have truly made it into this era’s idol distracting us from God and people.

God and people… what are we missing out on? ENGAGEMENT

Why do I say this in this way? Because this is my story. I am daily reminded that the internet and self-orientation are two of my biggest risks to genuine connection with those around me. Daily in my early-morning times with God, He reminds me that He is my obsession – God is engaged with me and showing me His worth and majesty. As I behold His excellence and beauty, I’m driven to want to know Him through His children around me, to know what if feels like to love like He does, to look up from His Word and reach out to loving others around me.

This video is worth a watch as far as looking up from our technology in this era: LOOK UP.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO CALLED “LOOK UP”

We can so easily sit alone in our homes “feeling social” when there are parks and church buildings and walking paths and mountains and beaches to be inhabited and enjoyed together. In addition, we have “our space” which should be seen regularly as an amazing opportunity to love people within each day. We can host and be hosted. Our space is one of the best places to begin this exercise.

We could live a full life of actually engaging like so many hundreds of generations have “had” to do before us. We could have any “posts” to facebook or twitter or youtube or wherever else simply be a highlight from a full day of genuinely enjoyed life. I don’t claim to be doing this better than anyone else. Better or worse use of social media isn’t our conversation here. Our conversation is about being genuinely present in each day with those who really matter… God and people in biblical priority in our lives.

Who are our priorities? A classic list in order of priority should be:
God,
spouse,
children,
relatives,
neighbors/friends,
enemies.

A follower of Christ’s list would be:
God,
spouse,
children,
believers,
non-believers.

An even simpler list that applies to all believers:
God
Believers (starting with spouse and children if you have them)
Non-believers (starting with relatives, close friends, neighbors)

Relatives are relative in Christ in many respects. Think of it this way: God is our father; believers are all our eternal siblings; Christ is our God and our eternal Savior; non-believers while living are all potential siblings in Christ.

This morning, in my reading of Hosea in the Old Testament, I am warmed by the hope that is available to all who trust in Christ.

“And in that day I will answer, declares the LORD, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth, and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel (God will sow), and I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say, ‘You are my God.'” (Hosea 2)

Carrie and I have had the joy of leading two friends to knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord in the last couple of years. They are both I would say not social-media heavies. This is not necessarily due to us. In fact, I’d say they weren’t this way prior to us meeting. They are conscious and present in this life, and that’s probably part of why we were able to meet and share Christ with them. They are real people who genuinely want to know HOPE and LIFE and found both in Jesus Christ through us! We became family because they were looking up and found some of God’s kids and wanted the hope we have.

I’d challenge all of us as believers and non-believers to be looking up today and into the future. LOOK UP more often and you’ll find yourself leaving a legacy of genuine and deep friendships and family that you’ll never regret.

Ultimately, LOOK UP TO JESUS CHRIST and be won by His awesome grace and worth.

Love you, friends.

– Torrey