It is encouraging to be part of the living, dynamic Body of Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of this Body composed of many members with different roles, gifts, and callings. Jesus went to the lost sheep of Israel, and Paul was chosen as an apostle to the Gentiles. Jesus worked to advance the kingdom of God, and He continues to do this through His people today. It is amazing how God uses our own backgrounds and experiences to burden us for particular groups of people.
Harold Morris was falsely accused of a double-murder and spent over a decade in prison. Upon his miraculous release one might think Harold would never step foot inside a prison again, but ministering to prisoners became a focal point of his life's work. All Christians are born again and filled with the Spirit, but there is no question Harold's experiences opened his eyes to needs others are ignorant of. Being imprisoned gave him insights into how convicts think and feel, and provided common ground and credibility as an equal which enabled him to be an effective witness for Christ.
Pastor Bill Wilson is a man who knew from personal experience how it felt to be homeless, abandoned, and alone as a child. His experiences paved the way to a outreach ministry among children and youth who were in the grip of unthinkable poverty, violence, and the lure of gangs. At the same time, God is not limited by our experiences or history. The late pastor Chuck Smith was used by God to make inroads with the Gospel during the counter-culture hippie movement in the '60's. He wore a suit and a tie and perhaps never smoked a cigarette or went to a dance in his life, but aptly ministered to barefoot hippies who reeked of alcohol and marijuana at church. God calls and equips us to do His will, and His ways are higher than ours. In our weakness and inability His sufficiency is evident.
It may seem cliche, but my heart yearns to aid and support churched people to faithfully persevere in following Jesus. I have been a regular churchgoer since I was a child, and over those years I have seen countless youth and adults forsake fellowship as they plunged into all manner of sin. How tragic to have heard Gospel truth, to experience the love of God, but for hearts to fall short of steadfast faith in Jesus! I have seen professing Christians battle addictions, fall prey to lust, turn their backs on God, tear apart their marriages, and be estranged from their grown children. I have known pastors who were caught up in drugs, depression, and even commited suicide. Kids I went to Sunday school with as adults were incarcerated, one was shot dead by police, and others lived in sin: their decisions funnelled into the downward cycle Jesus saved their parents from. About 85% of the kids in my youth group where I served for many years left the church upon graduation. My heart is for the 85% who left and the 15% who stayed: for pastors, ministry leaders, parishioners, their little ones and families.
I believe the people who attend church and profess Christ are as much at risk of spiritual pride or apostasy than a homeless kid on the streets to be hooked on drugs and alcohol. Praise the LORD He is able to save our souls for eternity but also protects and delivers us from all evil now. Satan would sneer at the disillusioned wounded, fallen, and apostate saying, "See? What kind of Messiah is Jesus to have followers such as these?" There is no denying genuine Christians fall far short of God's glory, but there is no accusation Satan can rightly bring against God nor His elect. There is no rebuttal against the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who regenerates people dead in sins and transforms them by His grace. Just one transformed life by faith in Jesus is a miracle which stops men's mouths and brings them to marvel: the changed heart we observe is the work of God. God is working, and ours is a faith that works. Wherever He has you and whatever you put your hand to do, do it with all your might as unto Him.
Harold Morris was falsely accused of a double-murder and spent over a decade in prison. Upon his miraculous release one might think Harold would never step foot inside a prison again, but ministering to prisoners became a focal point of his life's work. All Christians are born again and filled with the Spirit, but there is no question Harold's experiences opened his eyes to needs others are ignorant of. Being imprisoned gave him insights into how convicts think and feel, and provided common ground and credibility as an equal which enabled him to be an effective witness for Christ.
Pastor Bill Wilson is a man who knew from personal experience how it felt to be homeless, abandoned, and alone as a child. His experiences paved the way to a outreach ministry among children and youth who were in the grip of unthinkable poverty, violence, and the lure of gangs. At the same time, God is not limited by our experiences or history. The late pastor Chuck Smith was used by God to make inroads with the Gospel during the counter-culture hippie movement in the '60's. He wore a suit and a tie and perhaps never smoked a cigarette or went to a dance in his life, but aptly ministered to barefoot hippies who reeked of alcohol and marijuana at church. God calls and equips us to do His will, and His ways are higher than ours. In our weakness and inability His sufficiency is evident.
It may seem cliche, but my heart yearns to aid and support churched people to faithfully persevere in following Jesus. I have been a regular churchgoer since I was a child, and over those years I have seen countless youth and adults forsake fellowship as they plunged into all manner of sin. How tragic to have heard Gospel truth, to experience the love of God, but for hearts to fall short of steadfast faith in Jesus! I have seen professing Christians battle addictions, fall prey to lust, turn their backs on God, tear apart their marriages, and be estranged from their grown children. I have known pastors who were caught up in drugs, depression, and even commited suicide. Kids I went to Sunday school with as adults were incarcerated, one was shot dead by police, and others lived in sin: their decisions funnelled into the downward cycle Jesus saved their parents from. About 85% of the kids in my youth group where I served for many years left the church upon graduation. My heart is for the 85% who left and the 15% who stayed: for pastors, ministry leaders, parishioners, their little ones and families.
I believe the people who attend church and profess Christ are as much at risk of spiritual pride or apostasy than a homeless kid on the streets to be hooked on drugs and alcohol. Praise the LORD He is able to save our souls for eternity but also protects and delivers us from all evil now. Satan would sneer at the disillusioned wounded, fallen, and apostate saying, "See? What kind of Messiah is Jesus to have followers such as these?" There is no denying genuine Christians fall far short of God's glory, but there is no accusation Satan can rightly bring against God nor His elect. There is no rebuttal against the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who regenerates people dead in sins and transforms them by His grace. Just one transformed life by faith in Jesus is a miracle which stops men's mouths and brings them to marvel: the changed heart we observe is the work of God. God is working, and ours is a faith that works. Wherever He has you and whatever you put your hand to do, do it with all your might as unto Him.
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