August 28 From My Heart to Yours...

We live in a day when we might just well quantify it as a mess; a moral, economic, societal mess that transcends borders to make it pandemic.  It is a pandemic mess!  And it is obvious that much of the world is antagonistic toward the message of Christ.  Why?  Because the gospel message of Christ transforms people and therefore, societies and cultures.  Those in power who embrace culture and traditions that empower them are not giving them up easily.  When the gospel turned the city upside down, the Silversmith Union rose up opposing Paul and the message.  When Peter healed the cripple and the city of Jerusalem was being turned upside down by the events of the cross and subsequent resurrection, the religious leaders opposed the apostles.  Rome opposed Christianity as well, as have countless other religions and pseudo Christian imposters who in the name of Christ or God became totalitarian and persecuted all who opposed their rule.  Yet today as then, God empowers and emboldens His people for the task to which He has called them.  As the early church prayed for boldness, so too we can pray for a fresh boldness and empowering of God’s Spirit to fulfill God’s purpose for us.