It seems like we've gone from one big television event to the next - from the Olympics to the National Convention of the Democratic Party. The Olympics were amazing this year. Who will ever forget watching the men's 400m freestyle relay as Jason Lezak caught up from behind to beat the French by a "fingernail" of a second! Susan and I tried to be near the TV every time Michael Phellps raced and cheered on in front of the TV when he won his 8th gold medal in the 100m medley relay!
We've also been watching parts of the DNC convention this week. And the one thing that strikes us and that we've been talking about is how while there is great pageantry and commentary about the presidential race this year, the rhetoric is not anything we haven't heard in some form or fashion before. Not that we're discouraged. It's not that at all. Perhaps it's a recognition that the power to change the quality of my life doesn't lie with legislation or bureaucratic change. It's the recognition, instead, that transformation MUST occur first in the heart of the individual believer completely surrenderd to the purposes of God. And that's true no matter what political leader or party is in "power." Truth be known, the time of the greatest advance of the kingdom of God was under a government militarily and ideologically opposed to Christianity - the government of Rome!
It's time for believers to take seriously the power they've been given by God to win the hearts of people and instill real hope in God's presence and provision. We begin the conquest first in our own hearts, allowing God to "burn off" desires and motivations that don''t originate in Him. We follow by telling others of the amazing love and grace we've discovered in surrender to Jesus. And God hasn't left us powerless in that surrender. Rather, God in his awesome wisdom has gifted his people to speak life, heal the sick, minister to suffering, restore to wholeness, engage the powers and principalities, and bring heaven down to earth!
That is VERY exciting to me as we enter the Fall together. That is a "campaign" I can rally behind and believe in. Will you join me in campaigning for the kingdom?
No comments:
Post a Comment