The thought of taking your city for Christ can sound awesome and exciting, yet daunting and intimidating at the same time. Can one person’s efforts really have a lasting and rippling effect on their city? I think so.
I believe change starts from the inside out. And as we are being changed by the love of God we influence those around us. Relationships. God cares deeply about relationships because what is eternal are the souls we rub shoulders with on a daily basis. Whether we consider ourselves counselors or not, the interactions we have with others have an effect on their thoughts, behaviors, and way God is experienced or interpreted.
So as you love your neighbor, change is spurred. Movement of the Holy Spirit is seen. We are blessed with the ability to participate in and taste His glory as it spreads out over our cities for lasting change.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34; John 13:35 ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18; Matthew 28:19-20 ESV)
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV)
You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations — these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit — immortal horrors or everlasting splendours. –C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
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Blog post also found at: Take This City
What a great post (and an AWESOME song)! It’s so easy for us to think that our single relationships with people don’t matter, but in fact they are the only thing that matters! Jesus comes to us in the form of relationships with others … and how we interact with others is the first step in relationship. Thank you for this simple reminder!
Thanks Crystal! So true. Haha and yes I love this song! My pleasure for the reminder. I look forward to checking out Soul Munchies. 🙂
Great post Christina! And yes… Crystal (and her Soul Munchies) is a good one to connect with!
Relationships, relationships, relationships. That’s definitely the key. And relationships are easy to replicate. You connect with somebody, and they can connect with somebody else. It’s amazing that we kill ourselves trying to reach the masses when all we need to do is talk and relate to the one sitting right next to us.