God often uses something of little value to accomplish something of enormous, even eternal worth.
Think of the boy’s loaves and fishes. Compared to the great crowd of people, it was small (John 6:9). But it was enough. It was exactly what Jesus needed to accomplish a miracle. And like everything Jesus does, it pointed directly to Him. And that is why everything He does in and through us is so important. As the church, we don’t want to miss an opportunity, as small or as big as it might be, to make Jesus known.
How can YOU make Him known? More unbelievable, how does HE want to make Himself known through YOU? I encourage you to consider three ways:
Creativity to EQUIP
As a local church, we are exactly where God wants us to be. You are exactly who people are looking for and what you have is precisely what they lack. We each have been wisely created and gifted with differing skills, gifts, talents, resources, etc. Why? Because under the direction of the Holy Spirit and in His wisdom and power, we are led to not only meet needs but to provide solutions.
Can a church equip a city? Can a church still be a Joseph to our present day leaders and in our modern day culture (Genesis 41:16)? Can a church, can Christians, work arm in arm and side by side with a city or a town, with strangers or friends, to help, train, and educate people? Absolutely! Our God is the source of ALL creativity, wisdom, skill, and craftsmanship.
A church which says they want the best for their community but are not willing to invest their best into the community will make little difference and shine little light. It’s about giving what you have to Jesus so HE can multiply it and you can serve others in ways you didn’t think possible or in ways you thought were insignificant. Your participation with Jesus is key, not minimal.
Compassion to EMBRACE
When Jesus makes Himself known to you, there’s not only the transfixion of your heart with His glory, but also the transformation of your heart to His. Who He is captures you and sets you free. Whereas before we sought only our own joy, we now seek to bring Him joy. How? By serving others.
Did you expect a more grandiose answer? Something that would be considered “breaking news”? Something that involved calling down fire rather than taking up a towel (John 13:4-5)? It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us (Galatians 2:20). Serving with a towel, washing feet, is something Jesus did and does still through His church.
To embrace others with the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus is not a waste of time, but a miracle that radiates the glory of Jesus Christ.
Courage to ENGAGE
The power of the gospel is the power of God to salvation (Romans 1:16), not the creative work of equipping and not the compassionate work of embracing. We MUST do these things (Ephesians 2:10) or else we fail miserably as Christians (James 2:17). But the ability to influence with the gospel and the power to change lives for eternity is not ours. It belongs to God alone. It is HIS power that convicts of sin and gives birth to faith. It is HIS kindness that brings repentance and HIS mercy that brings cleansing. It is HIS blood that heals every disease. It is HIS strength that delivers from every oppression. It is HIS name that breaks every chain. It is HIS love that conquers death.
Our courage, therefore, to preach the gospel and to engage the city comes from the Holy Spirit who fills us, leads us, empowers us, and transforms us. To rely on Him doesn’t give us permission to do nothing; it gives us confidence to do everything.
Please remember this: where the grace of Jesus abounds so does the power of the Holy Spirit. So look around you. Who do you see? Whoever they are, whatever they’ve done, wherever they’ve been, there is MORE grace in Jesus. Engage them!
What you have is enough for Jesus. In fact, it is exactly what He needs for what He wants to do. Whether it’s your creativity to equip, your compassion to embrace, or your courage to engage, may you bring glory to Jesus as you shine the light of the gospel and sow eternal seeds to the tune of heaven’s song, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).
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