W.F.W.F.

I hope my worship pastor doesn't mind...I'm "swiping" the phrase he used as he closed out last night's mid-week service worship set.

WFWF: Walk Forward Without Fear.

An appropriate phrase, given the devotional was titled "What's Your Jericho?".

As mentioned early this week, with the world changing so rapidly, it's hard to know what decisions, actions and statements will prompt any number of reactions, whether they be rational, perceived or unfounded.

Upon hearing the phrase, something clicked, as I wondered what decisions aren't made; what opportunities for ministry are passed over because society has moved people to refrain from action for fear and intimidation of someone else' reaction.  While people fight for their right, others have to defend actually doing what is right. All because someone decided the definition was wrong.

And thus, "everyone did what was 'right' in his own eyes", as stated so often in the Old Testament.

Fear will keep you from walking. To stop walking, means eventually fear will have kept you from living. And those who don't live, don't do... anything, let alone what is right.

Church operations need to keep doing. What is right. What is necessary. What is faithful to the calling placed upon them. What is beneficial to the community they serve. What shows others the love of Christ; the grace of God and the friendship of believers. If those that are lost are not befriended; if they don't witness the love of Christ and experience the grace of God; if they don't know of the church available to them and the purpose they fulfill day in and day out, doing what is needed, what is right... then they will forever be lost. For their time on earth. For all eternity.

But God is not willing that any should perish... so the church; the body of Christ must keep walking. Preferably forward. Confidently without fear. Absolutely with Christ.

On this #deaconThursday, pray the church would indeed, walk forward without fear. Pray their decisions, ministries, outreaches and events and the plans that go with them are covered in prayer; anointed, relevant, and genuine... actively portraying and communicating the love of Christ. Pray the message communicated is well-received by the communities they serve; that "success" would not be determined by the number of lives that show up, but the number of hearts that are changed through the transforming love of God and the forgiveness of sins through His Son. As we serve God and our community, may we focus on doing right by God first and foremost; allowing Him to work on the hearts of man, that they may not see a person trying to be good, but a person daily living out a life of faith, whereby they become more like Christ.

For the glory of God and His Kingdom, we pray. It's not about us, nor others, but Christ drawing all to Himself. #Hislifematters


-PNC

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