The power and importance of that number -- one -- remains as a constant, thunderous, reverberating thrum in the processes of the grey matter inhabiting my cranium. A recent sermon at Revolution Church titled "10,000" set me to pondering the likely host of unique and extraordinary people within a 10 mile radius of our campus that do not know Christ. We want that to change. We want that number to diminish daily. Having a pastor's heart, "I" want that number to diminish.
But...it seems nigh insurmountable. How could it be possible for me...ME...to reach 10,000? To influence 10,000. Ten Thousand!!! I'm just some guy that plays guitar, lifts most every song by 10 bps, cannot whisper and has virtually no internal monologue.
The reality is that I
probably can't. That's right...I said it. I can't.
Not by myself. (that's the clue)
But, what I CAN do...indeed MUST do...is to offer my life as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. (Romans 12:1-2) To go therefore into the world, which includes my community and my immediate circle of friends. To teach not only those that need teaching, but specifically pour into those that have the ability to teach others. Why, you might ask? Because I have been called!
"So? You're a pastor." That doesn't seem like a big stretch, to be called. "We know you were called. Of course you were called. But me...I'm not so sure. That's a little uncomfortable. Don't pour into me."
Guess what? If you are a Christ follower...a Christian...a Born Again...or whatever you want to call it, YOU ARE CALLED!
Yes...YOU!
The Holy Spirit working in our lives and speaking to our hearts and minds is calling us to works that will have an impact for the Kingdom. The love extended to us through Christ in salvation is a love that is so powerful that we constantly feel it working on us and in us and through us. And, I'll let you in on a secret. The love of Christ in you cannot but influence you.
And if we are influenced, the door is opened for us to influence others.
If we, as individuals, can influence even one, that opportunity is immensely powerful. That person may come to have influence on another, or ten, or twenty, or a hundred over their lifetime.
Then consider that we do not stand alone. We stand as a body. A body of believers called to Live, to Love, and to Serve.
We stand as a church in a community served by a host of churches. This isn't about "us." This is about the Kingdom.
We stand with Christ.
Every One Matters.
#EveryOneMatters
Not by myself. (that's the clue)
But, what I CAN do...indeed MUST do...is to offer my life as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. (Romans 12:1-2) To go therefore into the world, which includes my community and my immediate circle of friends. To teach not only those that need teaching, but specifically pour into those that have the ability to teach others. Why, you might ask? Because I have been called!
"So? You're a pastor." That doesn't seem like a big stretch, to be called. "We know you were called. Of course you were called. But me...I'm not so sure. That's a little uncomfortable. Don't pour into me."
Guess what? If you are a Christ follower...a Christian...a Born Again...or whatever you want to call it, YOU ARE CALLED!
Yes...YOU!
The Holy Spirit working in our lives and speaking to our hearts and minds is calling us to works that will have an impact for the Kingdom. The love extended to us through Christ in salvation is a love that is so powerful that we constantly feel it working on us and in us and through us. And, I'll let you in on a secret. The love of Christ in you cannot but influence you.
And if we are influenced, the door is opened for us to influence others.
If we, as individuals, can influence even one, that opportunity is immensely powerful. That person may come to have influence on another, or ten, or twenty, or a hundred over their lifetime.
Then consider that we do not stand alone. We stand as a body. A body of believers called to Live, to Love, and to Serve.
We stand as a church in a community served by a host of churches. This isn't about "us." This is about the Kingdom.
We stand with Christ.
Every One Matters.
#EveryOneMatters
