Change the world

Do we really want God to change lives? Are we prepared to hear what he has to say to us personally? It is a very difficult thing to dedicate yourself to God and to continue to seek and to do his will, whatever your personal circumstances but it is exactly this that will set you apart as his servant, ultimately give him glory, point people to him, and set off the changes in people that as Christians we should long to see.

God speaks to us in many ways and it is often difficult to make out the cadence of his specific direction to us but we know his generalised will for our lives from the bible and it is from this foundation that we can be assured that he will work through us. When you come into agreement with God, what you do is done with the full authority of God and his Christ but it is only under this arrangement that this is done, and under no other circumstances. (Without him you can do nothing: John 15:5, e.g.).

The Great Commission is to go and make disciples of all the nations and when we go we need, indeed must, go in the authority of God and that is done by being in full agreement with what he says in his word. This is a difficult thing. In fact, going out to souls in this manner can be uncomfortable at best, distressing and painful often and sometimes even fatal.

I said in a previous post that we need to change the world one person at a time. Remember it is only when a kernel of wheat has hit the ground and has died that it produces many new kernels. Getting through to people is often tough and if they’ve been hurt, neglected, or worse, this task becomes much more difficult. Submission to God should not be painful for these ones and our job is to convince them of this and also to ensure it!

Gentle speech can break a bone (or crack a nut). Keep going. The person you are struggling with needs you to keep trying. He or she may be trying to push you away but in their world this might mean that they want you to pursue. There may be no change. Keep going. Only God knows when to use a stronger tool. The tools of our trade are gentleness and patience. I’m not saying that it’s never appropriate to give up on someone – just don’t make it a consistent solution. We’re in the business of convincing people God loves them, not that they may as well give up!

Also, I’m not saying that you should let everyone you meet babysit your kids but you need to be able to do God’s will (particularly) when you don’t feel like doing it. Love isn’t a feeling. It is the predetermined agreement to act in a certain way regardless of your feelings. Set your face like stone and be prepared to do his will whatever the weather or the season. You will eventually get a response, and that response will affect many more.

One soul at a time, we really can change the world. This responsibility has been devolved to us. We need to know that in God’s economy, no-one is beyond help who isn’t already beyond help.