We've been Reading Crazy Love, by Francis Chan, as we finished up our couples Community Group this week. If you haven't read it, DO IT NOW! God's love is so crazy! And our response back should be in kind, the sort of love that changes a woman, changes a city.
The reality is that there is a war going on, all around. A battle for eternity. It's spiritual, and it's results are in the physical. They decay and desperation in the city is a sign of this war's seriousness.
To engage in the battle will take several things, including Courage. If the city is going to be different, we will need to grasp fully the Hope that is in Jesus, and walk forward. Walk Courageously.
Francis asked a couple questions in Ch. 10. "Most of us use 'I'm waiting for God to reveal His calling on my life' as a means of avoiding action. Did you hear God calling you to sit in front of the television yesterday? Or to go on your last vacation? Or exercise this morning? Probably not, but you still did it. The point isn't that vacations or exercise are wrong, but that we are quick to rationalize our entertainment and priorities yet slow to commit to serving God." (page 169)
That led me to Hebrews 13:1-7 this morning.
"1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Jesus. He's the One we must fix our eyes on if the city is going to be different. He is the Hope we must cling to!
Maybe you need to courageously walk with Jesus, to love radically, to serve and see the Gospel brought to new heights and new souls? Put your faith to work, and see God show up and blow you away! It's the stuff that makes a city different.
Jesus.
We're praying for you. As I type this, I'm praying for you. Ask God the hard questions, and ask yourself. We're ready to partner with some of you on this mission to make the city different, because of Jesus.