Bigger World - We shouldn't live or minister in a world that is small. The world is a big place. There are thousands of people groups and billions of people. There are millions of struggles. There are innumerable things that people are going through. There are countless fears and hopes that people have. Somehow, we have to keep pushing ourselves to live in a big world. Our kids need to grow into a worldview that encompasses more than the few square miles of New Castle County. Sometimes, I fear that the church gets focused on a little world, where there a few issues that we speak about, and a few people we speak to, and a few things we do well. But, I believe that verse like John 3:16 (God so loved THE WORLD), and Mark 16:15 (Go into all THE WORLD) reminds us that our omnipotent, omniscient God is bigger than we often think. And certainly he is up to something that is bigger than we can imagine, which reminds me of the next thing and that is we need a...
Bigger Gospel - I recognize that the gospel is what it is, and really cannot be quantified in bigger and smaller times. And yet, the incarnation of Jesus, the death and resurrection of Christ, and the restoration of all things under God's dominion is pretty HUGE. Sometimes, I fear we make the gospel a prayer you pray rather than the gargantuan good news that it is. God is doing something great with this world. When we witness to unbelievers we hold out to them that their faith and repentance toward Jesus Christ is not some small transaction, but is something that is placing them in God's eternal family, and is obedient to God's eternal plan.
God capture our hearts. May we grow in our understanding of how great You are. May you help us to remember that You are not a tribal deity over our people, but a God over all the world. May we remember that Your good news is not some small self-help strategy, but Your perfect plan for the rightful recognition of Your Son for eternity.
