Hey Campbell Community!
I read something intriguing a couple of days ago and wanted to share it with you. Many of us struggle with sharing what God is doing in our lives and then helping others grow closer to God because of it. This may help. Bill Hull writes in “The Disciple-Making Pastor”:
“The Kingdom is the model.
The cross is the means.
The commission is the method.
The coming is the motive.”
The Kingdom of God is here. Jesus is the perfect embodiment of the Kingdom: perfect love, peace, justice, mercy, wisdom, truth, and the like. As stained and imperfect our lives are, when we have an active and close relationship with Jesus, love and peace reigns in our hearts. We seek justice and truth. Fractured relationships are healed. We are liberated from the idols of money, power, and status. The power of temptation loses its much of its seductive and overpowering strength. Our lives are transformed and are continually conformed to his image.
The cross is the way to have an active and close relationship with Jesus. His death and resurrection is the doorway to his kingdom and being close to him. His death means he paid the penalty for our sin and his resurrection means that sin no longer has its sting. When we place our trust in Jesus, we become united with him. His death becomes our death and his resurrection becomes our resurrection. This means that we are cleansed of sin and because of his Spirit we can say no to temptation. This is what changes lives. This is what causes conversation among friends.
Sharing these changes with others is the first step helping others heal. It also fulfills the commission Jesus has set before us: Go and make disciples by sharing what he has done in your life, inviting others to ask God into their lives, and helping them figure out how God is helping them grow closer to him. This is how we bring love, peace, justice from heaven to earth … and you play a HUGE part in making that happen.
We do this for two reasons. First, because we love those who we are called to share our stories with and want them to experience depth of the love of God. Second, because we know that time is ticking. Either they will die or Jesus will return. If they don’t place their faith in Jesus before one of these two events, we know the result. This is why we have a sense of urgency about our work. Let’s not forget that Jesus is coming.
Let’s reflect how mind blowing the Kingdom really is.
Let’s remember how thrilling the cross has been.
Let’s endeavor to share our story with one person.
Let’s do this because we love and we know time is not on our side.
Until next time.
