Day 18: 50 Days of Impact

What does it mean to be a good or pure person? I am sure that most people you ask will tell you that they are good people, they compare themselves to other “good” people or even “bad” people and if they hit the mark or consider themselves better then they are good. We have incorporated this into how we daily communicate with one another, “how’s your day?” “good”, “how you doing?” “good”, or “how’s the family?” “good”. We have ingrained into our hearts that if we don’t lie, cheat, steal or murder and we follow the laws of the land we must be good people. I mean I don’t do what they do.

So, with this though pattern as the basis of their lives, when we bring them the good news of Jesus and the salvation he provides, they often are confused as why they need him. The are already ‘good’ people. The may say why wouldn’t a good God let me into heaven I am a good person. They truly don’t understand the big picture of being good or pure.

 

“People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.”

Proverbs 16:2 NLT

 

What’s your motive for what you do today? Are you living your life to pleasure yourself? Or are you focused on the great commission of reaching and saving the lost?

 

We get so caught up in out lives that our focus is so far off track. Honestly, I have been there. I know where I need to be but for so long I have been focused on me that I need to stop and focus on Jesus. Sure, it is easy to say but super hard to do. We are bombarded daily by things that continually tell us the focus needs to be on us. Things we can do to make us pure, things that give us pleasure, things to take the pain away.

 

But if we can turn our eyes to Jesus, set our motives back to doing his will and focusing our attention on our task of fulfilling the great commission, how much more will our lives be satisfied. There will always be a cliff hanger at the end of a tv show, there is always a sequel to your movie, the next drink in only a bottle way, but Jesus can satisfy you in ways material things can’t.

 

So, I challenge you today to refocus your motives back to sharing your faith with other, tell them about Jesus. Let your relationship with him be a sweet aroma, something they desire. It will satisfy more then anything else.

 

Dear Jesus, I no longer want to be just seeing myself pure in my own eyes. My motives have been for me. I no longer want that, I want my focus to be on you and telling people about you. Holy Spirit help me to get over my barriers that I have put in place and reach others with the love of Christ. Let my life be a reflection of your goodness so others can see you in me, show them that their “good” isn’t good enough that they need you. Amen

 

 

 

Day 11: 50 Days of Impact

Things are happening daily in this world that we would easily describe as tragedies. Others are not so much tragedies but purposeful acts of evil that no one can explain away. They will point the blame and blame a group of people but they never truly understand what is the cause behind it all. Sin, it is the backbone of the evil in this world, its goal is to confuse, constrict and keep people so distracted to who God is. How will our reactions as believers impact those watching?

 

“People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.”

Ecclesiastes 9:12 NLT

 

Tragedy comes to everyone. Cancer, death, strokes, car accidents, suicides, murder, job losses, unexpected expenses, theft, and many other things constitute tragedy. These things can hit the beloved and unbeliever alike.

 

We as believers take these life events no less hard. It is all in how we react to them that will determine how we survive them.

We grieve when we need to grieve. Fight when we need to fight. But the awesome reality is we don’t do it alone. We have a father who comforts us and a family we can come to lean on.

 

Let us be that comfort to those around us who don’t know Jesus. Show them the love in the tragedy. Be the friend they need. They need to see us as friends and not enemies.

Sin is here to keep people away from God, it is our nature to enjoy those pleasures, but our purpose is to connect with the creator. Until we do that we will never be satisfied with life.

If today you are wanting to surrender to Jesus, asking him to forgive you of sin and free you from its bondage, I encourage you to just talk to him. There is no magic prayer, no mantra you must repeat. It is your heart he is looking at when you talk to him. If you make this change I encourage you to find a church that is invested in God and plug into a family of believers.

 

Jesus, we all know people who are hurting, help us to share your love to them in their grief and despair. Let them know they are loved by you and your family. Jesus, I am sorry for the things I have done, forgive me of my sins, I surrender my life to you. Amen

 

Day 9: 50 Days of Impact

During our Christian walk we can feel like what we are doing is producing no results. Some have an apathy towards their faith, leading to a whatever style of faith. Some of the things we do can be mundane, boring, plain. But these daily grind things push your faith forward, what you do today will have an impact on someone’s life.

 

“Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

 

“My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.””

Romans 15:7, 20-21 NLT

 

My drive moving forward is not thinking of myself but about others. But sometimes it is hard to just get started. Forward momentum is difficult when you have been sitting so long and you have become seized up. No matter how much you want to move you can’t. You brain may say do it but your whole body doesn’t help you out. The Holy Spirit is the answer to this, he can and will give you that push you need to get started in forward momentum, and he will be there with you, ensuring that you keep moving. If you trust him.

 

You don’t need a big event or exciting church service to start you momentum. Finding something to do to help others either in church or outside. Could be folding the bulletins, dusting, making coffee or handing our flyers. Outside it could be doing random acts of kindness, putting change in parking meters, loving those who have no one who loves them. To move forward you must put your foot on the gas.

 

Dear Jesus, today is the day I get moving in sharing about you. I don’t want to be sitting seized up. I have the opportunities help me to take advantage of them. I need to stop being afraid and trust the Holy Spirit will lead me in what to say. I will trust you. Amen