"For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits." (1 Corinthians 16:7, ESV)

We can't understand the gravity of Paul's mission. At his conversion, Jesus told him he'd be the apostle to the nations. He'd testify of Christ before kings and authorities, Gentiles and Jews. His life was to be wholly dedicated to the task of the evangelization of the world — serious stuff.

But, as grand as Paul's mission was, he realized how much it involved people. He couldn't reach people if he didn't love them. He felt a life void of love, even if dynamic and powerful, was good for nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-4). And he lived out this conviction throughout his life.

I love the little phrase above: "I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits." He didn't want to merely pass through Corinth. He wanted to hang out with the Corinthians. He craved a pause, a moment to talk, a season to be with them.

2 Corinthians shows us he never got the chance, but this was Paul's heart.

Consider his heart. With a major mission -- evangelize the nations! -- Paul wanted to stop and cultivate relationships. Personal ministry. Pastoral work. Beautiful.

I think we could benefit from Paul's example. His desire could also be ours. We don't have the same apostolic call he did, but we do have people God intends to use us to serve. Families, friends, fellow church members, and people we know are without Jesus. These are all people God loves. He wants to use our eyes, ears, hands, and feet as instruments of His love.

You have a mission in life. You have things to do. But never forget the people God has put around you. Stop. Say to them (and yourself), "I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits."

One of my oldest daughter's favorite memories is a two-year stretch when I would pick her up from school every Friday and take her to ice cream. It took 45 minutes, and there were many weeks we couldn't, but she'll never forget the time we got to spend together.

Let us consider the people we are called to love and serve. Then, let's seek to spend time with them because great things happen when we are with one another!