Do you know that I a coming back? I promised that I would, and told my followers to watch for my return. Some of them created elaborate scenarios complete with schedules and this is not really the same thing. Do you watch for me? On earth I declared that the Kingdom of God was coming, and was here. It has been ever since. You have my promise that I am with you always, and that my Kingdom is within you. Do you have ears to hear and eyes to see? If you do then you can watch for me without waiting, for you will be able to watch and see me now. Those who can’t will have to wait.

Do you understand that I will never leave you or forsake you? It is one thing to hold this as a doctrinal position and another to experience it as a lived reality. I am faithful even when you are unaware, but this arrangement works better when you are aware of my presence with you. This gives you peace and confidence. With this you can do with deliberate intention things you would be fearful to do otherwise. Don’t you find the presence of a sympathetic friend to be comforting and encouraging?

Do you think of evangelism as getting the people you meet to go to your church? This reverses the direction of evangelism. The Great Commission begins with the word “Go”. It concludes with making disciples of all nations. But the initiative and first action is for you to go to those who need the gospel message. You cannot expect them to come to you. Do you understand that going to them involves more than a change of location for you? If you want to be effective it involves more than meeting them as an outsider. Paul became all things to all people that he may save some.

Have you ever heard some outsider complain that the church is full of hypocrites? This isn’t true. There is room for them too. How many people do you know that live a life that fully expresses their comprehension of virtue? Most people, both inside and outside churches, don’t live as well as they know how. Is the answer to abandon all concepts of virtue? Holding values that you strive for provides an incentive for you to improve. It doesn’t make you a hypocrite to affirm virtues that you do not yet manifest.