Thirteen-year-old John and I went to visit our friends, the Bendicksons, in Iowa the first weekend of our Spring Break. What I love to witness in the Bendickson family is the way they invest in people. Their Heartshot Ministry uses archery as the means to connect with children, teenagers, and adults. Many that become involved with Heartshot take the opportunity to give to the community by serving the widows in the area.
While in Iowa, I noticed how Troy loved John. From archery to guns to four-wheelers to simple conversations, Troy took the time to invest in a young man – doing things teenage boys like to do. I also noticed how John did the same thing with their six-year-old twin boys Ollie and Archer. Every time I turned around they were wrestling or running or playing – things that little boys like to do.
God loves to witness such living and, of course, He teaches us by example. The Father loved us so much He gave His most precious possession so that we could be forgiven and saved. Why would He invest in those who did not deserve it? Because He loves us.
The wonderful plan of God is to give us the supernatural life of His Son through the power of resurrection. “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly be united with Him in His resurrection.” (Romans 6:3-5)
God gives us His Spirit as Living Water (see John 7:37-39). He continually invests Himself into His children. Praise God for His wonderful ways.
“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:4-10