Recently I heard a story, where a homeless man has found a purse full of money and instead of keeping it and using to provide food and shelter for himself, he gave it back.

Anyway, The story was very moving, but what was more moving was the fact that he was the same man that I saw on the market street in Manchester pretty much every time I was on my way to work. Moreover, some people have driven out this man from my workplace because he was smelly and off-putting.

Yet, the story, which struck me the most, is that a few days later I have found on my Facebook newsfeed that this guy has been given a free accommodation because of his act of kind honesty. When I read that I felt like I wanted to cry. Immediately, I saw the grace of God and the kindness of God.

So regardless of whether we are Christians or not, God is still kind, he is still gracious. Often we think of the love of God and we subconsciously, reserve it just for Christians or just for the good guys, but his love is everywhere regardless on our performance, he is not a God of just standard theism, for whom you have to perform. For the father what matters is his son’s doing. God does not pick and choose who receives his love because we all have received it. Romans 5:8 says that God loved us while we were yet sinners because as a result of this Love Christ died for us. You may believe in universal or limited atonement, to me none of those things matter too much, these are side issues, what is important is that God loves all of his creation, and he cares about each and one of us, from the drug Lord to a homeless man.

Sometimes, God wants us to just listen to others not to shove religion down people’s throats but to just love them be patient with them. God is patient with you as well as he is also patient with them. I thought of a new challenge as well: from tomorrow, every time I go to work I will look at the crowds and at everyone, having in mind that each one of them is equally loved by God, just like I am. What I hope to achieve from this is deeper revelation of God and of his innate attributes. I hope this blessed you and encouraged you to try this challenge out.

This morning, as I was having my lovely porridge with a cuppa coffee, I listened to my favourite station, the BBC Radio 4. On one of the shows there was a report, of what the new Chinese leader is currently doing. There was also an interesting remark; that the vast majority of Chinese products are merely an imitation of other products that are around. Thus, there is a lack of original design. The reporter then had said something very significant, that Chinese mentality is of fear in stepping out and creating something original. Unfortunately, the reporter did not provide any more information on the reasons for that issue.

However, this attitude of failure and imitation, staying in comfort zone cannot only be applied to Chinese industry, but also to our lives. We can often stay in the comfort zone for decades on end missing out on great opportunities that will spurn our further growth in God and would provide more joy.

Great wall of China: should we stop at our greatest achievement or should we strive for greater promises from God?

How many people could we reach if we chose not to be in this comfort zone? How many people could be healed?

Don’t feel condemned, instead feel compelled to step out of the comfort zone, trusting that God upholds you and his spirit lives inside you. He has not given you a spirit of fear but of love and power. Likewise we are to not walk by sight but by faith, that is the true meaning of Christian maturity. Please don’t get me wrong I struggle with stepping out of my comfort zone a lot too but this example reminded me that, we should not only be spectators, but to do something new change the world, use the spirit and the knowledge he has already planted in me. I hope this is quite challenging and encouraging because it certainly challenges me.