(Photo: Steve Buissinne @ pixabay.com
How on earth can a Believer have any impact when you’re living in a culture of so any mixed ideas and backgrounds and religious beliefs so that it’s all like mud?
"There hasn’t been anything like this before."
And how on earth do you best strike up a conversation of Hope with anyone when many seem quick to tell you what they think without hearing (or being willing to hear) what you’re saying?
"There hasn’t been anything like this before."
And how on earth do you speak Life effectively and faithfully to a culture that often has its heels dug in but without digging in your own “I know I’m right” heels?
"Surely, there has never been anything like this before."
Except it was the very description of the culture of ancient Colossae — a culture of many people groups and traditions that forged a hodgepodge of thinking and living, including religious practices. There is nothing new under the sun. And so the apostle Paul’s encouragement from The Message to those Colossian Believers still rings true down through the ages to 2020:
BE FAITHFUL…”My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.”—Colossians 2:6-7
LOVE CHRIST, LOVE YOUR TOWN…“Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.”—Colossians 4:5-6
"…yes, but If only I had more time..."
"...If only I had more energy.
If only I were smarter.
If only I could read the Word without daydreaming.
If only I had my act together—maybe tomorrow…"
And Jesus says: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”—Matthew 11:28, NLT
And He also says: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!”—John 7:37, NLT
And Isaiah says: “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy grain and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost—simply accept it as a gift from God.”—Isaiah 55:1, Amplified
And Solomon says:“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!…Leave behind your foolishness and the foolish and live, and walk in the way of insight and understanding.”—Proverbs 9:4,6 Amplified
“Yes, but there hasn’t ever been anything like this before…”
...One of the most beautiful things about being in the upside-down Kingdom of God is that it always has been and always will be built for those who don’t have their act together at any point in their lives. All we need to remember is the culturally upside-down password:
“Come as you are.” And then, go, be, live.
“My grace is always more than enough for you, and My power finds its full expression through your weakness.”
—2 Corinthians 12:9, Passion
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