Exponential Potential

So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed. Acts 19:20

But the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12:24

God's Word has extraordinary power. It can used many ways to accomplish many things. It is said to be good for teaching, correction, inspiration, and other such things (2 Timothy 3:16). It has been twisted and turned, even tweeked, to be used for negative purposes to justify enslavement, colonialism, and even wars that included ethnic cleansing. Yet, the Word of God must be used for God's purposes by believers.

When believers use the Word of God to accomplish the things of God, things happen. Lives are changed by the power of God's Word. hearts are convicted and souls are converted. God's Word is so powerful that it brings about changes that cannot be imagined. Try hard to imagine what would happen if what was "hidden" in our hearts came forth from our mouths in this day and age. Picture the possibilities! Now, once you have a clear mental picture of what could be, start sharing and spreading His Word. When we do so, things happen among us and around us. Do it and watch God work.

Church or Community?

There's a question brewing among the saints. Evangelicals and radicals alike are tossing ideas back and forth. Many folks in Christian circles are trying to figure out what to do during these hard economic times. People are trying to figure out if it is about the church being part of the community or the community being part of the church.

We contemplate the complicated. We mix and mingle a whole lot of mess. In the end, we are left with the simple discovery that there is no better solution than what we had before. The countless ways that we can dream up and scheme up don't seem to matter much because God has already offered the best alternative.

He expects us to be part of the solution to both the community's issues and the church's ills. The church needs to get over itself and recognize that it's not that holy. Church people sin just like evryone else, by thought, word and deed. The church should serve those within the community to help meet unmet needs of the fatherless, homeless, jobless, and others. Our service is not good works if the benefactors are merely other church people. That would make us simply hypocrites. We need to get out into the community and see where we might be able to lend support to existing services and add to the plethora of newly-adapted services needed to reach people at their lowest points as they seek to survive and simply make ends meet. Let the church serve its community, embracing brothers and sisters with all that they have to offer.

The unity of the church will consist
not in organizations,
not in dogmas,
not in liturgies,
not in pious hearts,
but in the word of God
in the voice of Jesus Christ.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

In the World, Not of the World

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Genesis 6:8 (NKJV)

Noah is an example of how we can exist in the world without being of the world. In fact, Noah found grace in the eyes of the lord according to the Scriptures. That says a lot about Noah because of the condition of the world he lived in daily. Dealing with worldly people does not mean that you have to become worldly. You can coexist with other people who do not share your beliefs and God will still grant you favor. You just have to commit to maintaining your integrity and keeping a grip on our identity in Christ in spite of the world we live in as followers of Christ. Even with that, we can maintain a high standard for ourselves in a world that seems to hav low standards.

Touch People (for Jesus)

I don't think we have to get all wound up about what we're supposed to do as we go to and fro in this world. Yep. I know some well-intended person hit you up about doing this for Jesus or doing that for Jesus, even doing and saying this in the name of Jesus. That sounds totally theologically sound until you check the Word. Jesus said love and you're on the right track. After all, God kicked salvation in based upon His love for the world (John 3:16).

Jesus' earthly ministry is recorded in all four Gospels. What's interesting about all of them is that we see Jesus revealed to the world. We get an upclose and personal glimpse of Him in ministry, conducting healing and teaching among the people. He serves as our example. It's easy. We see Jesus and should do the same as He did. It's not about what you know. Do you know Him? That's enough. Act on that if that's all that you've got. He's the truth. trust him to give you what you need.

Love Letters (Messages of Love)

Letters of L-O-V-E The Bible is often called a love letter from God to His people. It is God's love expressed towards mankind throughout the ages, culminating with His love expressed through the sacrifice He made through Jesus Christ. Write a letter today. Want a good idea of a letter that shares about God's love? Read 1 John in its entirety. That's a letter that shares about the love we should have since meeting Jesus. Not good at letters? Try writing an e-card. Dayspring and Crosscards have plenty of e-card templates that will help you share a simple expression of Christian love with family and friends, even co-workers. Got MySpace or Facebook? Share a special message with your "friends" online. Create a free blog and share expressions on how Christ shows us how to love one another.

The point is to send the Word forth. Let others know that what Jesus did was based on love, but what we need to do is share that same love with others. After all, it's what He has called us to do.