Long Way To Go

It is my hope and prayer, that all is well with you.
It is my hope and prayer, that this website and the prayers being offered up in response, on behalf of pastors, church leaders and missionaries are making a difference. I truly want to see churches make a greater impact in their local communities and if possible, see the change come some Sunday, as more commit to Christ and engage in the kingdom of God.

That said, during the course of my mind wondering yesterday, I recognized a pattern... and maybe it's just me (if so, it wouldn't be the first time.)

The more you think about spiritual matters, the more you realize just how much work you have in front of you spiritually.

If you don't think that's true; keep reading the Bible. God always finds an area to touch on and reveal, where, perhaps we aren't entirely wrong, but we could certainly be more like Christ; or least reflect Christ to a greater degree.

So, this is #misssionsFriday... what are you saying?

Yes, missions is primarily about reaching out with the salvation message of the Gospel; however, they do a disservice, if they fail to teach the other side of the it... the process of sanctification.

For once we've accepted the love of Christ and His gift of eternal life, why would it stop at that?

This is a covenant relationship. We see correlation of marriage, of Christ to the church.
The two become one.
They give of themselves to each other; fully and sacrificially.
And over time, they operate as one and are recognized as one. Christ is resides in the body of believers and the believer reflects the person and image of Christ.

But if we only reach out and offer salvation, we short-change the lost.

Pray, this #missionsFriday, that God would help missionaries, in their outreach and their message. May they do well (as I'm sure they do), to not short-change those they reach by not preaching the whole Gospel of Christ. As Bryan Duncan is singing "Inside Out" (as I write this), may many experience a total transformation in their lives. Inside out. Upside down. (and most definitely) Right side up. Pray God would accomplish the miracle of revival in the lives of many, as His people reach out and offer a hand of compassion, not just for the physical need but the condition of the soul.

May this be a day that many would come to Christ.
May this be a day that many more would reflect Christ.
For we all works in process in God's garage.
Various stages of tear-down, rebuilding and restoring.
To be used for His glory
To be a witness of His transforming power
As we give ourselves to Him, as He did for us.
For the advancement of the Gospel of Christ.

- PNC

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