Sharing Christ’s Love

 Happy February! To anyone who has entered a store in the past few weeks, you are aware of the approaching Valentine’s Day. I don’t celebrate aside from the chocolate, but the holiday reminds us of the gift of love. I’ve recently been pondering God’s love to the world. In my own life, that love has been so faithful! As I was driving to a friend’s house, tears of gratitude blurred the road in front of me while I considered how relentlessly He pursued my soul. He always respected my free will, but He went so far out of His way again and again to demonstrate how much I matter to Him. 

The same love that faithfully drew me back to God is extended to the whole world, and it’s my privilege to be a part of sharing that wonderful news with the city of Detroit. Today, that does not entail street preaching, sharing my testimony, or any other radical form of evangelism. Instead, it involves sending emails regarding cafe applicants, bagging coffee beans, and interacting with customers. It moves me to speak to Dennis, an elderly man who comes into the shop almost every day. It encourages me to talk to a Wayne State student overwhelmed with homework. The love of Christ prompts me to care over these passersby because they have priceless souls. On my own, I’m nothing special; I can’t make a difference in their lives. But I know Someone Who can, Someone Whose unfailing love is longing for them to accept His gifts of forgiveness, freedom, and fellowship. 

In Detroit, I am not the only one spreading the Gospel message. Awake Cafe is blessed with a team passionate about loving people the way Jesus does. This morning, I watched April (one of the baristas) intentionally pause her busy work to listen to Dennis sing and play a song he wanted to share with her. I also enjoyed seeing the new counter installed by the coffee roaster. Jonny (cafe manager) often works at that station. He is good with people, but since the roaster is in our back room, his interactions with people have been limited. This new improvement will allow customers to watch their coffee being roasted and hopefully encourage them to speak to Jonny, someone who is excited to share the love of Christ he has found to be transforming in his own life. 

April listening to Dennis’ song

New counter by the roaster 

How does one  bring such a post to a conclusion? We can never exhaust the subject of God’s love. In fact, those who accept it will revel in it for eternity! So, the best way I know how to wind this down is to join the worshipful reflections of Paul recorded in Romans 5:8-11:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

Bless His Name forever!