Simplicity of the Mission:
Such a simple set of things can make up the church in such a season as we have just gone through. It purifies and clarifies things to have difficulty. We’ll always tend toward having many activities going on that can distract us from our core mission. Love God, Love People, Serve People, so people may come to know that God the Father loves them and wants them to be HIS! If that is all any church is ever known for throughout all History – I will take that. YOU are a part of it. You are THE Church! It isn’t a building, a campus, an organization. The Church is YOU, connected to others who also follow Jesus.
You were made for it:
How can you be a person whom God uses significantly in this season? Here are four keys to significance and fruitfulness in this time:
- Turn your own heart to the Lord, seek Him, and ask Him to lead you. Ask Him to show you ways that you can Love people and Serve people. Seek Him above all others at this time. The Holy Spirit is extremely creative in His leading. You will be surprised at the creativity that will come when you ask the Lord to show you what to do.
- As you do #1, listen to the leading of the Lord, and move out – respond. Do something about what He leads you to. Don’t be afraid – what He leads, He also precedes. God will go before you, and make a way for you to go. He will provide everything you need to be able to do what He leads you to do.
- Don’t expect anything in return. In this time of crisis and recovering from crisis, Loving and Serving has NO STRINGS attached. Don’t try and figure out what might happen as a result of your loving and serving. Simply do it, and leave the results up to the Holy Spirit and the Father. You may be building a thread that becomes a lifeline. Your simple gift of love to another in whatever form the Spirit leads may be the one thing that changes an entire family tree. But don’t expect anything in return. Simply give love and help to another unconditionally.
- Be extravagant and generous at this time. If you have needs – let us know. If you can love and help, then by all means, love, and help. In the early church, thousands of Jews had come to Jerusalem for the Holy festivals around Pentecost. These thousands came to faith in Jesus when the Holy Spirit birthed the church. They all stayed in Jerusalem, and as the church formed and grew, they needed support, places to stay, food, clothing, and basic needs. Those who had given to those who didn’t have. The church took care of one another and God blessed all who were a part of it. If you have at this time, give to those who don’t.
That’s it. Seek the Lord, let Him lead, do it generously and unconditionally. Leave the rest up to the Lord!
Keep praying that the Lord leads all of His people, wherever they are in the world, to follow Him and lead the way to hope and peace during this time. Pray for all church leaders, wherever they are to clearly hear the Lord, and follow His leading in their personal lives, and in leading the church. Pray for our governmental leaders, that they would be granted wisdom. Pray for the front-line workers, that they would be kept safe. Pray for first responders, who risk more and more each day to keep our society safe and secure.
Blessings.
