God's Prophetic People - A People of Passion, Purpose And Power

God's Prophetic People

One of my academic mentors, Dr. Jim Sweeney, once gave me an illustration of a church which is infected with a spirit of competition. He said it is like a large lake in the middle of a field. It looks really big, yet it is only about ankle deep. In other words, it is quite superficial. How are we evaluating people today in our Christian circles? What about the person who was born with a disability? Isn’t everybody a winner in God’s eyes? As we realize how God looks at us and evaluates us, I believe we will be able to grow in true biblical love and unity as Christ has desired. The prophet Jeremiah also has something important to say about this in Jeremiah 45:5: “‘And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,’ says the LORD. ‘But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.’” Bible commentator Matthew Henry further elaborates on this truth saying: “What folly it is then to seek great things for ourselves here, where everything is little and nothing certain.” 9 We must seek the Lord and what is important to Him. That involves loving and having compassion on people, not simply competing with them. I believe one of the main reasons for this competitive spirit in the Church is that many have taken their eyes off of the Lord and placed them upon others and what they have achieved and/or are presently doing. The Apostle Paul gives us clear insight and warning into this: 2 Corinthians 10:12: “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” Jesus states the following in John 21:20- 22: “Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, ‘Lord, who is the one who betrays You?’ Peter, seeing him, said

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A People of Passion, Purpose, and Power / © Brian Daehn