Where Do You Want To Be?

I trust you had an awesome experience this morning during your church service, whether in person or online. We started a new series this morning, on the movement of God. And what a powerful message as well as a time of worship.

Though, as typical my mind was thinking while I was worshiping. While singing the song I Just Wanna Be Where You Are, I recalled the story of the prodigal. While it's a powerful story of God's grace and longing for relationship to be restored with humanity that has gone a far off into the distance, I found myself asking...

What if the son never leaves?

What happens if he doesn't walk away. He stays close to his father, under his leadership, helping to accomplish the goals and dreams of the family. What if he stays and continues to work alongside his brother?

What if, instead of walking away to pursue and live his own life, he steps out and goes into the world to do even greater things than his father had done... for what father doesn't want their child to go above and beyond whatever it is that they have achieved?

It's a very unhealthy relationship that a father wouldn't want his child to accomplish and experience less than he had achieved. God has great and greater things in store for us!

Having said that, it's hard to be effective for the kingdom of God if we are not where God is. As pastor stated this morning... if only we could come to grips with the fact that God is always moving. Thus the work is never done and every time we do not follow in the direction He is going, our ability to be effective and efficient is hindered and both the church as an institution and the people of God as a community fall behind.

On this #effectiveSunday, let's pray for an increased sensitivity to the still, small whisper of God and the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit. Pray that we not find ourselves in such a state that we miss the voice and prompting to the degree that drastic measures and circumstances are in order to bring us to our senses, such as the prodigal experienced. Pray God would accomplish the miraculous in the lives of those who desire a greater spiritual acuity to the things of God. May the hardness and harshness of the world and the church for that matter, not take a toll on our hearts, minds and spirits that we dismiss God's moving in our lives and on our behalf. May the church be greater today than it was yesterday, because we recognized God's moving and followed accordingly.

To be where He is
Both in this life
And in the life to come.
For the glory of God
And the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC