If money and time was no object, what would you most desire to do for the Kingdom of God? So often we say we’d serve more if only we had the time, or we’d give more if our personal finances weren’t so tight. While there may indeed be truth behind these statements, I think it is too easy to use our circumstances as a convenient excuse for not living out the Kingdom mission of Christ. There are many ways to earn more money if we were motivated enough to do so, and time can be freed up by shuffling our priorities. So if you could find a way, what would you really do if you had unlimited resources of both time and money?
Luke
Bringing an End to Poverty
I recently had the privilege of attending a screening of the documentary “58:”, a film commissioned by Compassion International with support from several other ministries. The movie detailed stories of people living in poverty and enslavement around the world. The documentary was very well done and I highly encourage you to check out the film and the accompanying website and book. The premise is that we can end extreme poverty in our lifetime if we would simply have the will. We have the resources and the technology and have in fact made great strides in the last 20 years. However, we can do better and put an end to poverty sooner rather than later.
Pursuing Holiness
As you go throughout your days, are you pursuing a life of holiness? Are you consciously striving to be the person God created you to be, a person who is consumed by the love of Jesus? This isn’t a new concept, but it has been brought to my mind in fresh ways through recent teachings by Bill Hybels and David Platt. Not only has God placed a unique combination of passions and skills in each of us in order that we might do the work He created us to do, but He has also charged us to conduct ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to Him (Philippians 1:27).
Only One Life
Summer is drawing to a close and another autumn and winter will soon be among us. Time passes rapidly as we hurry about our ever quickening pace of life in a society bent on demanding more and more from each of us. Technological “progress” inundates us with calls, emails, texts, tweets and Facebook updates that all clamor for our attention. The noise of life has become deafening, driving many to frustration and despair. Those of us who are a little older long for the simpler times of our youth, while the younger generation knows little of peace and tranquility. Amidst all the chaos, the call of Christ remains the same and our responsibility to serve and follow Him does not change.
Following Jesus is a Choice
When you committed your life to Christ, this was a choice you determined to make. No one can do this for you; following Jesus is a personal commitment and a personal decision (Joshua 24:15). For many, this is the only choice they will make. In reality, we must choose repeatedly throughout our lives to follow Him. Being a disciple is not a one-and-done kind of deal.
We choose to commit our lives to Him, and then we must spend the rest of our lives choosing to follow Him because following Jesus is a choice we make every day (Luke 9:23). When the rubber meets the road, many choose to take the off-ramp. Making a one-time decision is easy; a lifetime commitment is something exponentially more.