so in the last few weeks God has really been hammering away at me. it goes back to the courses that i took this past fall semester, personal evangelism and intro to missions. but the focus in the hammering has been my approach to reaching out with God’s grace and love. it’s just that there really was no “reaching out”. and i have tried not to take all the credit for this problem, but i’ve still allowed it to be a part of my life.
see, churches today, or at least the ones that i have been a part of…have their services and “outreaches”. but those “outreaches” are always right there at the church. we come up with these major activities and flawless planning to get the gospel out…but the whole time telling those who are unreached, to come to us. come to our concert, come to our vbs, come to our whatever… we’ve become inward focused!
why is that? because we’re lazy, comfortable, don’t really care when it comes right down to it? OUCH!? for me i just hadn’t taken the time or effort to step back and see it that way. but through my course work, personal study, and different books and blogs that i have been reading, God is hammering away.
check out this very familiar passage:
matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
i am not the greatest scholar, nor do i have all wisdom, but i don’t think we have reached the end of the age. and i don’t see where God said anything about sit there, plan big fun events, and pray that people show up. He hasn’t told me to spend all of my spare time sitting around at home and enjoying the blessings He has given me.
i need to be seeking opportunities to GO and do what God has for me to do. i need to be encouraging others to do the same. i need to be leading the way back to what God has called us to do. i need to stop waiting til i’m ready or until all the details are set, i need to be sensative to the Holy Spirit’s leading and GO!
