Keeping Focus On Loving God - Loving People - Spreading The Good News

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. — Ephesians 6:12-13

Prayer is one our weapons in the spiritual warfare that we fight every day.  In a battle, communication with the commander is important.  If you are not communicating with the Father, you are operating on your own .. and that is not a good place to be.  It is so easy to lose focus on your mission.  To get diverted.  If you are not in constant contact with your “commander”.  

We have been in Texas since 2017, initially to help with the recovery from Hurricane Harvey.  But that was never our primary mission. Although we have responded to an array of needs since Harvey, our primary mission has never changed.  

Our primary mission is to lift Jesus up.  To make Him known. To let people know that God has not forgotten them and there is a Savior whose name is Jesus. The primary method we do that is by serving others who are in need and have no hope of satisfying that need on their own. It is all too easy to become so focused on the method that you lose sight of the mission.  There are many organizations, faith based and secular responding the needs created by natural disasters.  On the surface there is little difference.  But in the case of the former, there is opportunity for an eternal solution to the needs of the people, for the latter, the solution is only as good for a lifetime, maybe less.

If the eternal destiny of the people you help is not important. If that has somehow become secondary to the material help you are providing, then you have lost focus on your mission.  In Star Trek - speak, you would call it your Prime Directive.  In God-speak, you would call it the Great Commission and Great Commandment. In order to accomplish your mission you must be willing to lay your life down (John 15:13, Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 6:24) and walk in obedience to the Father’s will.  Micah 6:8 is perhaps the best synopsis of what that is … 

“What does the Lord require of you, oh man?  But to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” 

That means to not go your own way, not do what you think is best or reasonable, but to obey the Father.  Just like Jesus! Go figure!  So what does this mean for you?  I am addressing Christians who are pursuing their new life in Christ. Not necessarily a new life that means leaving their home behind to fulfill their God-given purpose.  But it could!  The bottom line … every day you live should be encompassed by who you are in Christ and the fact that the world needs to hear the Gospel and to see Jesus through the lives of the Saints.  To see Jesus in you. A transformed life does not happen because you do good things. It happens because of Christ in you. Being one with Jesus and the Father. 

I do not pray for these [the disciples and followers of Jesus of that time] alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word [all Christians after that time - including today]; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. - John 17:20-23

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Rejoice! Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone