Too often many Christians live life out of an obligatory love for Christ, rather than a deep love relationship. It is the same idea as being converted but not transformed by Christ. We see this often as people attend church functions, Sunday services, bible studies, etc. People come, serve (maybe), and go about their week unchanged or challenged by their church experience. I admit that I have fallen into this season of life a time or two. My focus becomes too much about "doing," rather than "being" in the presence of God. Everybody can "do" things. To "be" in Christ is something all Christians should do naturally, but apparently we don't since so many Christians who work to "be" in Christ now refer to themselves as Christ Followers. It is sad that we must separate these two terms or phrases to reveal where our true heart is at.
With this said, I was reminded some time ago that my opinion, judgement (although righteous…said with sarcasm), and thoughts are not as important as the journey a person is on. It is our job to love, challenge, encourage, empower, and so on. We can formulate opinions, however once that opinion draws our thoughts and feeling out of God's loving purpose our attempts to love, challenge, encourage, and empower are selfishly/sinfully driven, rather than God centered and shaped. If we are not a blessing, but more of a curse than we definitely not doing our job as Ministers of Reconciliation and Ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:18-21).
I understand to be a blessing can be subjective at times. People often time feel they are a blessing when in doubt they are NOT! Do you, in the presence of God, check your heart regularly to ensure you are a blessing than a parrot that repeats only a negatively charged response over and over? Missions (ministry) starts where you stand. It starts when an identity begins to journey from a converted relationship to transformed relationship with God. When we are transformed, or are being transformed, we begin to move from an obligatory action as a Christian to taking action due to an overflowing of our heart. Our hearts become so intertwined with the heart of God that we begin to see with His eyes, feel with His emotions, and love with His heart. As our heart changes so will the words that we speak and the actions we take. Love, forgiveness, truth, and joy will be what is exposed for all to experience.
Missions (ministry) starts where you are standing. It starts when you spend enough time with God that you begin to hear God's voice. It starts when you begin seeing the intrinsic value each person has in Christ. It starts when you begin to serve because Christ served you first (Matt. 20:28). Missions (ministry) starts when you realize you are a Christian/Christ Follower right where you stand before you are a friend, son/daughter, husband/wife, father/mother, professional, domestic "goddess" (for all you stay at home mom's), etc.
Missions starts when you realize you are the expression of Christ, and all that He represents where you stand. Once you come to grips with that in a humbly confident and purposeful manner, than you can take a step into the world as a change agent and not a perpetuator of societies norm. We are meant to be in the world and not of it (John 17:11-16, Romans 12:2).
With this said, I was reminded some time ago that my opinion, judgement (although righteous…said with sarcasm), and thoughts are not as important as the journey a person is on. It is our job to love, challenge, encourage, empower, and so on. We can formulate opinions, however once that opinion draws our thoughts and feeling out of God's loving purpose our attempts to love, challenge, encourage, and empower are selfishly/sinfully driven, rather than God centered and shaped. If we are not a blessing, but more of a curse than we definitely not doing our job as Ministers of Reconciliation and Ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:18-21).
I understand to be a blessing can be subjective at times. People often time feel they are a blessing when in doubt they are NOT! Do you, in the presence of God, check your heart regularly to ensure you are a blessing than a parrot that repeats only a negatively charged response over and over? Missions (ministry) starts where you stand. It starts when an identity begins to journey from a converted relationship to transformed relationship with God. When we are transformed, or are being transformed, we begin to move from an obligatory action as a Christian to taking action due to an overflowing of our heart. Our hearts become so intertwined with the heart of God that we begin to see with His eyes, feel with His emotions, and love with His heart. As our heart changes so will the words that we speak and the actions we take. Love, forgiveness, truth, and joy will be what is exposed for all to experience.
Missions (ministry) starts where you are standing. It starts when you spend enough time with God that you begin to hear God's voice. It starts when you begin seeing the intrinsic value each person has in Christ. It starts when you begin to serve because Christ served you first (Matt. 20:28). Missions (ministry) starts when you realize you are a Christian/Christ Follower right where you stand before you are a friend, son/daughter, husband/wife, father/mother, professional, domestic "goddess" (for all you stay at home mom's), etc.
Missions starts when you realize you are the expression of Christ, and all that He represents where you stand. Once you come to grips with that in a humbly confident and purposeful manner, than you can take a step into the world as a change agent and not a perpetuator of societies norm. We are meant to be in the world and not of it (John 17:11-16, Romans 12:2).
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