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.
mission
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.
All for Jesus
What are you doing today? What plans are you making for your life? In our consumerist and materialistic society, it is easy to get caught up in a life that does little to reflect Jesus or promote the growth of His Kingdom. The problem is, as followers of Christ, we are called to live for a single purpose: to glorify God by furthering the mission of Jesus. We stand in the midst of a generation of believers who profess their faith in Christ yet live lives that show little evidence of that commitment. Jesus died to not only forgive our sins, but to transform us from the inside out. I don’t know about you, but I don’t run into a lot of transformed Christians. I meet many who go to church or donate their time and money to worthy causes, but those activities are a far cry from transformation. We have one purpose and one goal; everything else is futile and worthless.