Another massacre in Colorado and my heart sits heavy thinking about history and evil and the true Enemy. I had many thoughts today about what took place in Aurora last night, but one made me pause and I needed to write about it. I was thinking, "Jesus come back!" I want Him to do something about this tragedy and this evil and this pain.
That thought quickly diminished as another surfaced... Church, let's rise up! The very Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of each of us who have chosen to follow Him. That very Spirit enables us to bring peace, power, love and more to circumstances like this and not only that, but to the world as a whole. To all of the brokenness, evil, pain... By His stripes we are healed! He came to set the captives free! He's about binding up the brokenhearted. And there are many of those today... In Aurora and throughout the globe.
The reality is, we need to get out of our pews and demonstrate this Good News of the Kingdom! More than ever before, we need to proclaim and show people what it means to walk with God and know Jesus. We need to get our hands dirty and walk in places where people wonder about our faith. We've stayed too tidy for too long, Church. We're trying to keep our noses clean instead of storming the gates of Hell--remember Jesus said, "The gates of Hell will not prevail" against His Church. Do we live like we're advancing on them, pushing them down, or do we live like we're the ones keeping Hell out of our neat little yards?
This guy that did this... He's practically a kid. He allowed himself to be a tool used by the evil one... I think the conversation will loudly turn toward debates about guns and at-risk-youth and things like that. But, there are deeper issues that must be addressed.
Sin. Our depravity and need for a Savior. The thing is, the Church gets this, right? But do we walk in light of the hope that is within us? Do we step outside of ourselves and live this Good News everyday of our lives and see Jesus shape and transform the things and people around us? Jesus, as one of my pastors reminded our church on Sunday, came to give life to dead people!! In our sin, we're dead. But God, who is rich in mercy loved us and sent His Son to pay the penalty for our sin! He made us alive...
I think the Lord was saying to me today, "Jessica, you do something..." He's already provided everything I need to step out. Am I willing? Are you?
What dreams has He given us for the people and places around us? It's time to start dreaming those dreams and calling what HE sees into existence! We need to tell the Enemy that we're not standing by waiting for Jesus to return to make this better--He already has made it better--He crushed the Enemy underfoot! And, Jesus will come and take His place as rightful King someday. I cannot wait!! It's time for the Church to step into that place of victory with the One who is called Faithful and True. It's time for us to take seriously the reality that He's entrusted the advancement of His Kingdom to us... His Spirit gives us the ability to walk in that truth today. What are we are doing about it?
I want Jesus to come back to a Bride that's ready for Him... Church, let's rise and show the world who He is, what He's done and what He is doing. Let's show them the truth of a Kingdom that's so real and so beyond anything we could ever imagine that this world absolutely pales in comparison. Because, it does. It doesn't come close. So, let's show the people around us this hope, freedom, healing, power and love. Let's move towards them and demonstrate this Kingdom to them.
Jesus, may we steward well all You've entrusted to us until that Great Day and all for Your glory. Amen.
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