As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Matthew 10:7-8 New International Version

What is the pain of our city? Do you know what hurts people put up with and live with each day? Do we care enough to do something about it?

Sometimes we get so caught up with our own agenda and activities in our church that we forget what God is doing in our city and beyond. We can be so inward looking, busy with what we are interested in, that we turn a blind eye to the needs and struggles people have around us. When Jesus sent His disciples to preach the good news of the kingdom, He was expecting them to share His heart for the broken, sick and hurting. In the same way, Jesus also wants us to care for others and serve them.

The world we live in is increasingly divided and isolated.

Consider it a privilege that we get to serve Jesus by serving others through authentic relationships and genuine gestures of love. In doing so, we get to see the broken made whole, experience how the sick are made well, and help hurting people recover and find wholeness again. More often than not, you don't need to go far to help someone in need. It could be a friend, neighbour, family member or a colleague. There are many ways we can care and extend a helping hand.

See a pain and heal it. See a need and meet it. See a gap and fill it. We do it not because we must—but because we want to partner with Christ by proclaiming the gospel of peace and goodwill to everyone.

We can touch lives and change communities together.

Transforming lives through the gospel is not a one-time event, but a part of everyday life for the Christian. Unmistakably, it is also a journey and a process that moves people from unbelief to belief, from scepticism to surety and from darkness into light.

Jesus didn't call us to be detached from what is going on and happening in our city and the many cities of the world. Rather our Lord tells us to go and make disciples of every sort of person. Many people are seeking answers to life's hard questions, let's pray for opportunities to connect with them and reach them for Christ in a high-impact, low intimidation way.