Ephesians
5:1-2"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in
love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a
sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
At the request of our Pastor, I've spent the last couple
days at a Church Conference in Downey , California with four other members of our Congregation
and heard a motivating message by the Keynote Speaker Pastor Randy Frazee of Oak Hills Church , San
Antonio , Texas . In
the study for a book about the rise of Christianity, author Rodney Stark found
that in the first few centuries following the ascension of Christ into Heaven,
two main factors fueled the growth of “the Way” in the world. First, that women
had a devalued position and status in society, but with Christianity valuing
women properly, women flocked to the faith, converted their husbands to faith
and raised their children in the faith. Secondly, two major out-breaks of
diseases (1) Small Pox in 125 A.D. & (2) Measles in 250 A.D. killed
approximately ¼ to 1/3 of the population each. As the symptoms appeared on
family members, they were put out of the house to not infect the rest of the
family, but the Christians wouldn't put their family out and would take in the
non-Christians outcasts to care for them despite the risk. Not only did people
seeing this act of love start flocking to Christianity, but it was discovered
that people being cared for with love had a 33% better chance of recovery from
the disease. So the ultimate factor in the rise of Christianity was their
doctrine and beliefs taking on flesh in action. God’s presence was central in
their lives and that truth moved from their heads to their hearts. There was
something different about those Christians. They believed that there were no
second class citizens and they lived this out daily because God loved them.
They believed it and acted upon it.
Matthew 16:15-18 He (Jesus) said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and
said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to
him, “Blessed
are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in
heaven. And
I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church,
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Like them, we need to take on
the Jesus Revolution. Imagine a wheel with the words “Like Jesus” in the
middle. At the outer top is the word “think”. Rotating right, one-third around
the outside edge is the word “act”. Then rotating right, another one-third of
the way around the parameter of this tire is the word “be”. Thinking is the
beliefs, acting is the practice of those beliefs, and being is the natural
virtues thereof. To complete a revolution of the wheel, we start with “Think
like Jesus” and move to “Act like Jesus”, then to “Be like Jesus”. Our
Christian beliefs are actively put into practice and these become our virtues
lived out daily as we “do life together”. It goes beyond beliefs to a way of
life for the students and followers of Jesus Christ (called disciples). And
this Jesus Revolution equates to “Belonging” and rotates around to “Growing”
then to “Serving” as the indwelling Holy Spirit fuels the revolutionary process
going round, in loving God and loving our neighbors with the presence of the
Lord. Don't just bring the message, but "be the message" by living out the gospel by faith. This is the “Jesus Revolution”. Join it and get rolling!
Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I
with them.”
In Christ, Brian
2 comments:
Being thoughtful and gracious (acting like Jesus)to those that cross our path daily is a way of living that keeps giving long after the kind thoughts, words, and actions have taken place. We don’t need to look very far to find someone who deserves and feeds from the message when we consider all the people that cross our paths each and every day. Sounds like a blessed conference Brian; how wonderful you were a part of it! Thanks for sharing!
Blessings and love friend,
Denise
Thank you for the comment Denise. The denomination conference brought together the local churches in a thought-provoking theme of being "Uncommon Disciples" for Christ to think beyond our comfort zones, venture out and stretch the boundaries of our Christian message and ministry outreach to our families, neighbors, friends and community. Sometimes, the comfortable "common" routine restricts our walk and thoughts towards the Lord and our neighbor to inward action and outward inactivity spiritually, mentally and physically. This conference focused the leadership of the congregations to take a "core" look at God's target, to take aim with challenging and purposeful goals, then shoot for the high calling of Jesus Christ in the common goal of advancing the kingdom of God in our culture. You are so right that we do not have to look very far to find those who are in need to help and care for with the love of God. Sometimes, we do need a reminder to take our eyes off the distractions of this world and refocus the church on this holy journey. Blessing to you sister.
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