What does it mean to conform to the image of Jesus and seek the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5-8)? I heard a wonderful lesson once entitled “The Abandoned Water Jar.” It was taken from John 4. What an awesome story! Jesus takes advantage of a “ministry moment.” Are you looking for ministry moments? I know I am. Jesus had tried to teach disciples for sometime about personal work, but this woman gets it quicker than any of the disciples. I would give anything to be surrounded by people that were on fire for Christ!
Like the Samaritan women, the disciples did eventually get fired up. They went into all the world as they were commanded by Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16). We need to get fired up for Jesus! How can we do that? By conforming to the image of Jesus and seeking the mind of Christ. We need to become people that are focused on soul winning. We need to start talking to people about our faith. We need to become more evangelistic as Christians.
A wise teacher once told me that “There is no passion in the church because there is no vision.” I suppose this can be seen in John 4:34-35. Why do we lack vision? Maybe we have forgotten what we are here for and what we are called to do... to be soul winners! We don’t need men to tell us about the vision of the church. We need to return to the New Testament and see the Lord’s vision for the church. Remember that Christ is the Head of the church (Ephesians 5). Can I improve upon His vision? No. What did Jesus do? Where did Jesus go? How did Jesus interact with people?
George Bernard Shaw said, “Some people see things as they are and ask why. I see the way things are not and I ask why not.” There are changes that must be met if we intend to keep being the church of the New Testament. We need to do some “soul searching” and then go out to do some “soul winning”! Our community, our friends and neighbors, and even some of our families are lost. It is time we started thinking about souls. We have some work to do!
You are loved!
Dr. Ray Reynolds
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