These past few weeks we have covered the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. These habits are applicable to being an effective Christian and effective Church. There is an eighth habit: Find Your Voice And Inspire Others To Find Theirs.
What is our voice and from where does it come? Our voice comes from God through Jesus Christ because we have been reconciled through him. Paul writes in Romans 5:11 that we "rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." Our message is salvation and freedom in Jesus!
Paul had every right to boast in his heritage and accomplishments. But in his letter to the Philippians, he considers all that to be nothing compared to knowing Christ (Phil. 3:8). Like Paul, we must not look to ourselves as the source for being effective, but to Christ who provides the means by which we are reconciled with God; we are "made right" because of him.
Finally, we must inspire others to accept this offer of reconciliation. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to "encourage one another and build each other up." Building takes time and effort. Jesus does the heavy lifting, and creates inside the person a new creation, but it takes time for that new creation to walk, talk, and act like the "Christlike" person they now are.
Be effective, people's destiny and God's glory is improved when you do!
No comments:
Post a Comment