When you come to church do you just interact with your family and those with whom you already have a relationship? We often make the mistake of assuming that people different from us (different age, race, life circumstances, etc.) would have no interest in us and nothing that we could gain from their friendship. That couldn't be further from the truth!
One of the amazing things Jesus did through his life, death and resurrection was to unite people who normally wouldn't even consider hanging out together. Think about the make-up of his followers. They included:
- Former demon possessed people
- Tax collectors
- Doctors
- Fishermen
- Political radicals called "Zealots"
- "Sons of Thunder!"
- Doubters like Thomas
- Former prostitutes
- Easily frightened people like Timothy who came from a mixed marriage home.
- Gentiles, Jews, Samaritans, male and females, old and young, educated and not so educated, extroverts and introverts, rich and poor, and you and me.