I think each of us as Christians has a God given desire planted in us to transform our region and our communities. We hunger to see our families experience the same love of God that we have experienced. We want our co-workers to find the same hope we have found. We want our neighborhoods to be places of love, encouragement, hope and safety.
Just today in my neighborhood there was a drive by shooting and someone was hurt. But more than that one person, many people are growing fearful. This is an opportunity to come against evil and establish righteousness.
How will regional transformation come? There are many things we can do. Prayer is important. But we must do more than pray, we must become Light and the hands and feet of Jesus.
The early church learned from the apostles and they grew. Not only did they listen to the Word of God, they allowed the Word of God to shape and mold their lives. They ” became imitators of us and of the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 1:6, NIV84) When we imitate Jesus we become Christ like. When we become Christ like, our lives are changed. We become powerful carriers of God’s love. We become empowered to speak the truth. We become empowered to heal the sick and cast out demons. We become light in the darkness and hope for the broken hearted. We become agents of transformation.
The early church became Christ like. “You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. ” (1 Thessalonians 1:6–8, NIV84) The message of hope and power of love was proclaimed through transformed lives. People were able to believe God because they were able to see lives changed by faith.
What do people see when they look at you? Do they see love, mercy, compassion, grace, forgiveness? Do they see the power of God? Do they see holiness and consecration to God? Do they see humility and surrender to God?
Transformation of our regions will happen as our lives our transformed. Our lives will be transformed as we kneel before Jesus in humility and pray. “Here I am Lord, use me, change me!”
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