A friend of mine told me last night that he was blessed and fortunate to have a passion that intersected with the world's greatest need. That is a great description of God sending Jesus to rescue a needy world.
What is your passion? As gas prices sky-rocket and food prices jump so much that rioting is the order of the day in several countries . . . as we complain about the choices we have on the political field . . . as many men are discouraged and failing in the face of sexual temptations from many angles . . . as stark injustice continues seemingly unabated all over the world . . . as children are living in hell the best they can in many parts of the world . . . as folks dream and talk about a more invasive collision of God's realm with ours . . . what is your passion?
Are we content to sit in our holy huddles? Are we satisfied to wait for folks to come to our churches? Are we gonna keep talking about the void in Christian leadership while we refuse to show initiative? Are we happy to talk the wonderful language of change in the church and world without doing anything? Do we think we can change the world and see God's kingdom come while we Christians remain sectarian and not cooperating with one another? I write as one guilty of all of the above at one time or another?
What will I do? I am compelled to fight for change, to continue to pray for God's kingdom to come down while learning how this actually happens. I must continue to ask "thy will be done on earth it is in heaven" and then strap on all the gear that puts me off the sidelines and in the action.
The paradox as I look at my own life and face my own calling is that I am too weak to do anything and too strong to sit and watch. When I choose to see and live by the flesh, unfilled with the Spirit, I get discouraged and complain, and talk all the good spiritual talk. When living by the Spirit I get bold and confident, knowing crystal clear what God has called me and others to actually attempt by faith in the world, even things that seem ridiculous to the eyes of the flesh.
It is time for us Christians to step up and be the instruments by which God impacts the world. Here are 10 practical things we can do:
1. Realize that those who are forgiven much love much-- and love more.
2. Realize what Kingdom giving means. In terms of money it is ironic . . . so many do not tithe, realizing it is hard to prove from the NT, yet failing to realize the NT would call us to give more than 10% because grace gives more lavishly than law ever would. If we all even stuck to the Old lawful way of giving a tithe the world would be changed.
3. Start the things you talk about wanting to see in your church and city. We have to stop using the "I'm too busy, someone else must do it" excuse.
4. Forget about retiring from kingdom work. There is only one day that arrives where your contribution is done-- your death.
5. Realize God will not bless the sectarian work of our churches. We have to join together with other churches and Christians. Let's promote other churches and ministries we may not be connected with.
6. Become more ashamed of our lack of biblical knowledge and dive afresh into Scripture.
7. Assault the throne of God in prayer with faith that He will do far more than we can ask or imagine.
8. Take risks of faith even if you must act alone or others think you are nuts.
9. Remember the outlandish promises of God to act in the world through you. He is on the hook to make things happen, not you. Thanks Gary Haugen for teaching me this.
10. Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God.
Pray for our teams as we go to Ukraine and the Philippines during the next month. We need prayer.
1 comment:
Great Article TA! Love your heart. (a former co-teacher who agrees with the line... "I am too weak to do anything and to strong to sit and watch." I need Him.
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