How can we be effective as Christians in a world that has gone crazy?
11 points to ponder!
1. Look outside yourself and circumstances for a moment. There is more in the world than this – much more. 1 Cor 2:9
2. Why did God breathe into man causing humans to have a soul? Why did God create you and your neighbor? Answer: Love – An exercise of God’s free will. To love means to share. Eph. 1:4-6
3. “Pros” (with) God. The Word was with God (John 1:1). “Pros” is the Greek word translated “with.” Pros means face-to-face, complete union, or intercourse with God. From eternity past God the Son, God the Father, God the Holy Spirit were in union. Until, the cross. “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me” (Matt. 27:46)? This was the first and only time in all eternity that God the Father broke fellowship with God the Son. Why? Because sin separates fellowship with God (Isa. 59:2). Jesus became sin, paying the penalty for sin, thus breaking fellowship with the Father, so that those who would trust in the shed blood of Christ could have fellowship with the Father through the Son (2 Cor. 5:20,21). Jesus broke fellowship, becoming sin, so that we might have fellowship with God. Amazing!
4. You have purpose – your neighbor has purpose. Eph. 2:10
5. You have always been in God’s mind – this is a mystery. Eph. 1:4
6. You have been given a certain number of days on earth. Ps. 90:12
7. God created: He is still creating. He is not finished creating you. Esther 4:14; Jer. 1:5-10
8. You have worth – your neighbor has worth. Gen. 1:26
9. If Christians can understand this, we would understand that each person from conception till death has significance. Gen. 2:7
10. As a result we would do everything in our power to tell the message of God’s love to the world. Acts 1:8
11. We would live differently, we would talk differently, we would go out of our safe, sub-cultural boxes and embrace humanity with the love of Christ communicating in practical ways, as well as in profound ways – we would be different. We would be effective. Micah 6:8; Luke 14:23
Because of Calvary we go. May this upcoming season of remembering the death, burial and resurrection of Christ move us to action putting feet to our words.
Time is short, life is precious and Jesus is coming soon!
By Dr Jeffrey Johnson