In Matthew 25:31-46, an oft-quoted Scripture here, we find a list of things commanded by Christ for us to do. It can be overwhelming to look at this list and try and determine how you can consistently do it all: feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, provide for the poor, care for the sick and visit those in prison. While I believe we must be open to doing any of these things at all times, I think it will be far more likely and ultimately more effective if you focus on those things in the list for which you are passionate.
Archives for December 2011
Make Each Moment Count
I’m not a morbid person, but lately I’ve been thinking more and more about the concept of “What if I only had a year to live?” I’m not currently in danger of succumbing to a physical disease and I don’t engage in a plethora of risky behaviors, so the odds are I’ve got more than a few years left on this planet. Still, what if I knew my death was imminent or even if I was privy to know the date when my life would end? How might my life change? What would I do differently or perhaps for the first time, if I suddenly realized the clock was ticking?
Making An Impact
I believe that every true follower of Christ desires to make an impact on their world. It’s in our spiritual DNA; if we love Jesus, we will do what He tells us to do. That means making disciples of other believers, feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and looking after the orphans and widows. As long as we are living out the mission of Christ, it will be our unending passion to impact our world for His glory. The question that we all need to ask ourselves is, “In what way are we making an impact for the Kingdom?”
Following Jesus is Not for the Passive
I recently had a conversation with a friend about a message preached at the faith fellowship I attend. My friend’s comment was that he was feeling beat up by the sermon and that his son even asked why the preacher was mad. He then contrasted this with another sermon he had recently heard that was much less confrontational. He thoroughly enjoyed the latter message but ended up walking out on the former. As I reflected on our conversation, I could not help but be reminded of 2 Timothy 4:2-4 where it states that people will seek teaching that will soothe their ears.