Less Shocking, More Seeking.
Thought for the day, or maybe it's just been on my mind and I had time to put it in to words today.. either way here it goes.
Why are we so intent on "shocking" people in to turning their eyes to Christ? We believe and know a God who is bigger and more powerful than we will EVER be. Why do we feel the need to create that "one moment" for a relationship that ultimately has nothing to do with us?
I went to a beautiful wedding last weekend, and it was so refreshingly unique and simple in it's own beauty. The couple were completely overjoyed, and though they were surrounded by people who are part of their story, they could have been the only 2 people on this earth and it wouldn't have changed their relationship in the slightest. It's a lot like that in the spiritual sense between God and us. We are His tools to reach the lost, but in the end all there will be is a personal relationship between an individual and Him, and He knows how to reach them. Remember the story of when Jesus called the first disciples? They fished all night and caught nothing. But Jesus told them not only when to cast their nets, but where and the nets became so full they were breaking! How much more effective we would be if we would seek out the actions CHRIST asks of us, and not our own ways!
“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. -Luke 5:5-7
We need to be reaching out, we need to seek ways to love people. There's a newer mentality that I'm not sure I totally agree with. It's more of a mentality of "disguising" our beliefs so that we blend with the crowd. It makes me feel like we're playing a strategic game, like we're going to get in and attack from the inside. If I'm not mistaken, we are called to be different, a part from the world. (NOTE: this does not imply we are above or below non-believers, just different.)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.- Romans 12:2
I'm not saying we should walk around with a sense of entitlement or self-righteousness, because really... who doesn't want to punch someone like that in the face? I'm saying we need to stop focusing so much on "What can I do to get their attention" and seek God more, asking for opportunities and for hearts to be prepared. HE will make it happen, not us. How can we hope to see lives changed, if our own efforts are drowning out His voice? We should, like the wedding I described, just be simple and let His love be the focal point. We are part of the story, but He IS the story. Let Him BE the "attention getter", He is able.
Why are we so intent on "shocking" people in to turning their eyes to Christ? We believe and know a God who is bigger and more powerful than we will EVER be. Why do we feel the need to create that "one moment" for a relationship that ultimately has nothing to do with us?
I went to a beautiful wedding last weekend, and it was so refreshingly unique and simple in it's own beauty. The couple were completely overjoyed, and though they were surrounded by people who are part of their story, they could have been the only 2 people on this earth and it wouldn't have changed their relationship in the slightest. It's a lot like that in the spiritual sense between God and us. We are His tools to reach the lost, but in the end all there will be is a personal relationship between an individual and Him, and He knows how to reach them. Remember the story of when Jesus called the first disciples? They fished all night and caught nothing. But Jesus told them not only when to cast their nets, but where and the nets became so full they were breaking! How much more effective we would be if we would seek out the actions CHRIST asks of us, and not our own ways!
“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. -Luke 5:5-7
We need to be reaching out, we need to seek ways to love people. There's a newer mentality that I'm not sure I totally agree with. It's more of a mentality of "disguising" our beliefs so that we blend with the crowd. It makes me feel like we're playing a strategic game, like we're going to get in and attack from the inside. If I'm not mistaken, we are called to be different, a part from the world. (NOTE: this does not imply we are above or below non-believers, just different.)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.- Romans 12:2
I'm not saying we should walk around with a sense of entitlement or self-righteousness, because really... who doesn't want to punch someone like that in the face? I'm saying we need to stop focusing so much on "What can I do to get their attention" and seek God more, asking for opportunities and for hearts to be prepared. HE will make it happen, not us. How can we hope to see lives changed, if our own efforts are drowning out His voice? We should, like the wedding I described, just be simple and let His love be the focal point. We are part of the story, but He IS the story. Let Him BE the "attention getter", He is able.
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