>>Shine Like Stars . . . .

Paul wrote in the Bible that we are to be Shining Stars. Read the following verses as they tell the story: 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. Philippians 2:15 (NIV) I am reminded how important it is to know Him, serve Him, and shine for Him. Jesus went where no one else would go and did what others would not do. He spent time with those in need and hurting. Almost every time you see Jesus in scripture, He was associating with people of the world, which at that time was most everybody. He spent time with people like the lepers, blind, outcast, tax collectors and common people. Every where Jesus went, He made a difference in the lives of the people He associated with. He went about teaching, loving, healing, changing, shaping, showing compassion, and saving. We too need to model our lives and ministry after that of the Lord Jesus. He ministered to the hurting, listened to those in despair, reached out to the lonely, cared for the disenfranchised, healed the sick, cared for the dying, and proclaimed the Truth of God. We can learn a lot about ministry and service from the life of Christ.

Should we not also be going about ministering to the lost and unchurched? Should we show our love for God by doing what the very Son of God did in the world? I believe, as God continues to build NorthStar Church, we should do the same. NorthStar is a place of refuge for those in need, searching for truth, and needing a touch from the Savior. The story of Zacchaeus is one that teaches us the importance of sharing the Good News with the world. Read the story of how Jesus touched a life in such a way that it changed a man forever. 1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a `sinner.'" 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." 9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:1-10 (NIV)

My prayer is that we would be such a people that touches the lives of those around us with the message of Christ's love. In scripture we see Jesus taking the time to share with Levi, and we see the difference made in his life. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. 15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and `sinners'?" 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:14-17 (NIV) This week let us reach out to those who need the changing, saving, healing message of Jesus. Shine Like Stars For His Glory.