The Great Commission calls every Christian to advance the gospel of the kingdom, in love. We are to see the people around us as humans made in the image of God. Are they sinful and fallen? Yes. And they are precious to Jesus Christ.
Each of us is to see our life and work as the platform God has provided from which we proclaim and demonstrate truth, beauty and goodness, to those around us. Through the Christian, and especially through the church, others should be able to see the wonder and beauty of God’s intentions for people. Every Christian has a calling and every legitimate vocation is a platform for kingdom ministry and service.
This is one of the DNA messages, and I thought about when I read an article by my friend, Dr. Bert Downs, chancellor of Western Seminary. Bert was writing at Transformed Today, a blog ministry of Western Seminary. He writes, in part,
This past month, I lost (yes, I take it personally) one of my favorite influencers. He wasn’t in my life a long time, but he changed my view and my behavior on a few crucial things. … Here are a few things that I caught from Russ . . .
- It’s possible to thoroughly love your community … and thoroughly love the Lord at the same time. The vehicles through which Russ accomplished that were love, service and humility. Russ lived all his professional life in that town where he served as teacher, coach, principal and school district superintendent. He was a leader in his profession, a leader in his community and a leader in his church. He was much loved and respected in all of those arenas because love, service and humility marked his life and his relationships in all of those settings. And when he was disappointed by something no matter the source, he never responded with judgment, but always with the pain, empathy and consideration of someone who truly loves.
- If you really want to, it’s possible to discover the potential in anyone and to bring it to the surface. I watched him do this many times through conversations and acts of kindness. People who needed to recalibrate their view of life always found a reliable compass in Russ’ hand. …
Go here to read the full article.
– Gary Brumbelow