{"id":47915,"date":"2019-02-25T16:03:30","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T00:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldvision.org\/?p=47915"},"modified":"2020-02-14T10:08:54","modified_gmt":"2020-02-14T18:08:54","slug":"matthew-25-challenge-beauty-incarnation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldvision.org\/blog\/matthew-25-challenge-beauty-incarnation","title":{"rendered":"Matthew 25 Challenge: The beauty of the incarnation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What if there were aspects of the incarnation — God being in the world in a physical way — that included us today? As we begin Lent this year, pastor Greg Holder reflects on World Vision’s Matthew 25 Challenge<\/a> and how it helped his church make God’s love an action. <\/em><\/p>\n

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” —1 John 3:18<\/h3>\n
These tender but blunt words remind us that love cannot be an abstract idea we only talk about. We have to do <\/em>something in this world — something tangible. This is what we long for: love that is present, love that shows up, love that expresses itself in costly and concrete ways.<\/p>\n
As Christians, ours is a life of faith. Life with God is beyond the reassurance of what we can see with our own eyes and touch with our own hands. But God, in his infinite mercy, knew we also needed something tangible.<\/p>\n
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. …” —John 1:14<\/h3>\n
God physically entered the mess of our world. This is how he makes things right. This is how he makes things new. And this is how he reminds us that we are not alone. This is the beauty of the incarnation.<\/p>\n
And, in some ways, now it’s our turn.<\/p>\n
The struggle against injustice, exploitation, fear, and brokenness is real. Sometimes you’ll hear people say, “If only Jesus was here today, then <\/em>the world would have a chance … then<\/em> some of these problems would be addressed …”<\/p>\n
But what if that wasn’t the plan? What if there were some aspects of the incarnation — God being in the world in a physical, flesh-and-blood way <\/em>— that included us today?<\/p>\n
That brings me to the Matthew 25 Challenge<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Last year, our church was privileged to partner with our good friends at World Vision for a week-long experience that made the words of Jesus in Matthew 25<\/a> come to life in new ways.<\/p>\n
“… ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” —Matthew 25:40<\/h3>\n
The “least of these brothers and sisters” was not an overused, well-worn phrase. Throughout the week, those words became personal and real.<\/p>\n
Conversations started at schools, in offices, around dinner tables, and across social media about the lives of others in far-off places. Through the power of technology and daily challenges, more than 4,000 people at The Crossing were connecting real faces and stories to Jesus’ words about the hungry<\/a>, thirsty<\/a>, naked<\/a>, and imprisoned<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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Be intentional. Carve out time today to reflect on the #m25challenge<\/a>.
What have you learned?
What was your biggest struggle?
What surprised you?<\/p>\n
— Greg Holder (@gregholder_) March 10, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n