Dangerous thinking: I keep thinking about this mighty God who assembled all us Christians to make an impact for His kingdom. It’s so easy to talk about making an impact but maybe not as easy to actually make the impact – with our actions. If we really believe that God is our God. – If we spend time praying and seeking him – and we believe all that we say we believe – shouldn’t that change everything? Shouldn’t that motivate me and you?
If God wept over the destruction of Jerusalem because no one would turn to God – should we not weep for those living in the mountains and all around the Mole? What injustice! Haiti is this poor nation with no hope – no Heaven. I can’t imagine waking up and farming the land or working in the banana field – and not knowing that there is a Heaven! What injustice! Should we not rejoice and weep as Christ did? It should change us…..it should burden the very deepest part of our souls.
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There was a group of Moravians about 100 years ago who lived on an island. There were 3000 slaves on this island. Their master wasn’t a Christian and he didn’t allow anyone to come and minister. No one was allowed to influence the slaves on that island. So there were two young boys that sold themselves into slavery so they could witness. Can you imagine selling yourself into slavery so you could witness? They lost all their rights.
As the two boys were heading off on the boat their last words were – “May the lamb that was slain receive the reward of his sufferings.“ Did you catch that? We are the reward – we – the people. If I’m such a prize and those brought into his fold are such a prize, shouldn’t I be willing to do whatever it takes so that He might receive the reward of his suffering.
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We are often stalled by questions! We ask HOW TO reach the world when deep in side the real question may be DO WE WANT to reach the world? I love to use the excuse of “I’m not sure what to do.” It’s a great excuse because it allows me to continue to justify my not going out and doing anything.
If people ask us how they can make a difference – then we need to tell them to GO! Don’t ask how – just go and do. God is not relegated to a church or a mission house – God must be in the streets! The apostles were going out of the area, into the streets, and dying to seek the lost. That is true suffering! Our view of suffering is any inconvenience but what a contrast when you look in Hebrews 11:32-40.
Hebrews 11:32-40 – THE MESSAGE (Bold is my emphasis)
32-38I could go on and on, but I’ve run out of time. There are so many more— Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets….Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn’t deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world.
39-40Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.
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If I’m offered to travel to the waterfall in La Forge – I’m probably going to say “no“. It’s not that I don’t want to see it -I’m overweight – and am not ready for such a physically taxing adventure. How many of us truly hear God inviting us on an adventure to save His children and spiritually feel that same heaviness and drag to say “No”? God does not send out who he doesn’t equip! We have the gear already don’t miss this climb. Don‘t go through your Christian walk sight-seeing– change the world–take on the adventure! You can’t save the lost without getting your shoes muddy! You have to get off the sidewalk. God is in the streets waiting for us to join Him. Go! Get messy! Now quit reading this blog and get down and dirty for Jesus!