I have been writing about how the Bible instructs us to love people. I wrote about loving others as Jesus did by being humble – by putting other people and their needs ahead of our own needs: Humble Pie? Then I wrote that we are to love people by using our gifts to serve: Football Dynasty?
How else are we to love people?
Some of you may have noticed that Paul Revere is in vogue on Madison Avenue in NY, NY – at least two companies are playing off of his famous ride. In one ad an insurance company uses the line “Happier than Paul Revere with a cell phone.” In the other ad a car company modifies his famous line to “The Italians are coming.”
Not sure why Mr. Revere is so popular at the moment but it caused me to think about his famous ride and his warning that “the British are coming.” I did a little research and found some interesting facts:
- Revere did not shout the phrase attributed to him “The British are coming!”, but rather “The Regulars are coming out.” ***
- The “alarm and muster” system that was developed to warn the colonists was so effective that within an hour people in towns 25 miles from Boston were aware of the British army’s movements.
- The message was ultimately delivered by not just Paul Revere but by over 40 riders.
What does Paul Revere have to do with loving people? Getting the message out and spreading the news to the colonists was critically important to saving the lives of thousands of people.
Another Paul had a critical message to get out as well – a message that has saved more than 2 billion lives:
“They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.” (Acts 28:23, 24 NIV)
Paul was acting on the last command Jesus gave before ascending into Heaven. Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Paul Revere had thousands of lives to save. The message of Jesus communicated through Paul and countless others has saved billions. You may not have that many people counting on you but there may be 1 or 10 or 100 people depending on you to share the message of Jesus’ salvation.
How are we to love people? We are to love people by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with them. While it is not our responsibility to save it is our responsibility to share. While we don’t know who will believe and who will not believe just as Paul experienced, we do know Jesus was clear on our assignment.
Who is your person? Who is counting on you to start spreading the news?
In His Service,
Ed
*** Paul Revere’s mission depended on secrecy. Since the countryside was filled with British army patrols shouting “the British are coming” would not have been the best approach. In addition, most of the Massachusetts colonists (who were predominantly English in ethnic origin) still considered themselves British. Revere’s warning, according to eyewitness accounts of the ride, was “the Regulars are coming out.”
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