salt-shaker.blog

What opportunities Jesus has for us in these tumultuous times! Everything we thought to be a ‘given’ is now up for grabs, right is called wrong and vice versa. Religion is being replaced by political and societal morality. And here we are – tasked to spread the kingdom of God! Actually we face no more opposition than did our predecessors in Acts who were cursed, mocked, stoned and eventually used as torches for the empire’s main thoroughfare. Yet their passion for Jesus is still reverberating through humanity’s quest for truth. They, like us, were reviled – but for their boldness rather than their hypocrisy. They upset the system – but with their message rather than political posturing Their citizenship was heavenly, not earthly. They ‘loved not their lives unto death’, faithful to obey despite the cost. Their pain was the Gospel’s gain.

What is our legacy going to be? What are we willing to suffer for the kingdom? Are our hearts good ground or thorny? Are we ashamed of His words or proclaiming them? Winning souls or playing it safe? Going forth or huddling up? Our earth experience is bounded by divine timing, our personalities and talents fine tuned to this point in history (Acts 17:26, Ephesians 2:10). Our response is our choice – rock or sand. Hearing or doing. Knowing or acting. Empowered by grace we can build with gold, silver and jewels rather than wood, hay and stubble.

The church was not intended to be a monastic shelter, but rather a hub for Gospeling our society. It should be a place to welcome and care for hurting humans. We, like the first disciples, are sent out to heal as well as preach. The church is more than a recharging station for our own souls (although it is that), but is also a rescue mission for a broken world. Let us be as David, who ‘served God’s purpose in his own generation…’ That means squarely facing the forces of darkness in heavenly places. But it also means facing the dark apathy of our own hearts and repenting. Going forward on our knees will open our hearts, then our mouths. Our message and its presentation is worthy of our attention. The world is depending on our voice.