How do we see others, the homeless, and those in need? Do we feel sorry for them? Or do we see them with their great potential, as Jesus did.

I remember a few years ago going to a board meeting of a community outreach center. After the meeting, I met a man who served on the board. We would probably consider him to be a candidate for the services offered by the center. He and his wife live on a small social security income. They have medication bills of over $500 dollars a month. The man had to carry an oxygen tank around because of his many years of smoking. This man was in bad shape. It would be easy to look at that man and his wife and feel sorry for them. But they are not sitting around waiting for handouts or feeling sorry for themselves. In fact, they are the ones who are giving the handouts. They volunteered every week at the center that helped others. Even in their struggles, their Christian potential was being lived out.

We need to look at others and ourselves and see the great potential we all have in being an important force in God's community of faith. There are many ways in which we can fulfill our potential. The most important step to fulfilling our potential is by becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." That statement by Jesus says very clearly that his new disciples had the potential resources to serve God and God's people. He used their strengths and potential, as fishermen, to "fish for people."