Impacting Our World
Do we jump on a bandwagon where many Christians are congregating, and by the power of the masses cause change? Do we cement our belief systems and together espouse them, believing that is how Christ would have us "let our light so shine"? Do we really believe our viewpoints, solidified by a majority, and proclaiming them in earnest causes others to consider our thinking as valid, and in this way, they might "see the light" and turn from their wicked ways? Has apologetics ever been an effective way of influencing others, or does it just sharpen the opponents' views and strengthens others resolve? Is the dissemination of information the way to evoke change in our world as followers of the Way?
Are we to impact "the world" as a group, or are we to "impact our individual worlds"? My mother used to say that if we all just took care of our own houses, then the world would be a better place collectively. Although, she wasn't talking about spiritual matters such as how we "let our lights so shine" or how we are "to occupy" until He comes, the principle is well taken.
I believe that as I "let Him have His way through me" when I have contact with people in my sphere of influence, brings more impact than if I join my own thinking with others of like mind, and try to use that to bring change. In fact, is our own thinking even valid, if it is only from our carnal minds, and not from the mind of Christ, which we possess, if we let this mind be in us which was in Christ Jesus. And what was that mind He is talking about in context of that verse?
Phil. 2:1-11
1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,a 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,b being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As we "let this mind" (one of humility, even unto death) be in us, in our own individual world, the power of His Spirit, I believe, will have more impact than any group effort, fueled by fleshly opinions and perspectives. In fact, the latter, will only bring angst against the very purposes of God, and present to the lost world a false understanding of who God is. We may not "see" the impact of His Sprit, but we, as people in Him, walk by faith and not by sight, and we know and believe in it, because we ourselves have experienced it when He drew us unto Himself, and continues to empower and grow us by His grace in our lives everyday.
"Less of me, more of Him" (as John the Baptist said many years ago) is the goal, and the only way, to impact others, as His light, released through us, and also supernaturally as He sovereignly chooses, dispels the darkness in our worlds. Amen.
Are we to impact "the world" as a group, or are we to "impact our individual worlds"? My mother used to say that if we all just took care of our own houses, then the world would be a better place collectively. Although, she wasn't talking about spiritual matters such as how we "let our lights so shine" or how we are "to occupy" until He comes, the principle is well taken.
I believe that as I "let Him have His way through me" when I have contact with people in my sphere of influence, brings more impact than if I join my own thinking with others of like mind, and try to use that to bring change. In fact, is our own thinking even valid, if it is only from our carnal minds, and not from the mind of Christ, which we possess, if we let this mind be in us which was in Christ Jesus. And what was that mind He is talking about in context of that verse?
Phil. 2:1-11
1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,a 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,b being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As we "let this mind" (one of humility, even unto death) be in us, in our own individual world, the power of His Spirit, I believe, will have more impact than any group effort, fueled by fleshly opinions and perspectives. In fact, the latter, will only bring angst against the very purposes of God, and present to the lost world a false understanding of who God is. We may not "see" the impact of His Sprit, but we, as people in Him, walk by faith and not by sight, and we know and believe in it, because we ourselves have experienced it when He drew us unto Himself, and continues to empower and grow us by His grace in our lives everyday.
"Less of me, more of Him" (as John the Baptist said many years ago) is the goal, and the only way, to impact others, as His light, released through us, and also supernaturally as He sovereignly chooses, dispels the darkness in our worlds. Amen.
posted by Patti Blount @ 8:26 AM
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