Change Starts With Me

As believers in Christ, we know Jesus solves all. Jesus is peace. Jesus is love. Jesus speaks for us who cannot speak for ourselves to our Father in Heaven. Jesus shines His light on all wicked sins. Not to judge or condemn but to carry, and restore all that we have broken. So that God may be loved and worshiped by every tribe, tongue, and nation.

In John 14, Jesus tells us He will send a Helper. A Spirit of Truth, to be with us forever. Because of this, we get to receive and share Him post-resurrection. This happens through His living body that is the church, His bride. Jesus provides us with an example of order and application to all of the problems of our world. He is not sending another savior before His return. We are given His authority to accomplish more through Him than one physically can alone. He entrusts us, as His bride, to honor and submit to Him. To righteously steward His body in a way that would allow His mission to be accomplished.

Your Kingdom come, you will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

God's Kingdom:

After this, I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands, and they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

Revelation 7:9-10

On earth, as it is in heaven will not happen by accident! It requires action because there is an active enemy against us and reconciliation. After all, it brings us all closer to God and to each other. God is patient! Jesus already paid for all of our sins, He doesn't choose to leave any one of us behind. We cannot accept a position of defeat with others, as we walk toward Victory we did not earn. How great and mighty is our God! What limitation can post-resurrection Christians, living with His Spirit in us possibly have?! If God is for us, right?! Reconciliation of our human relationships leads to reconciliation. Racial reconciliation needs faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, compassion, understanding, uncomfortable conversations, and transformation. A lot of necessary work that requires our consistent diligence. Jesus chose us to reconcile humanity. We know Him to be purposeful, which indicates this is possible!

The Lord instructs us in Proverbs 31:8, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Silence is an agreement. By the grace of God, we have a voice & The Spirit of Truth! His agenda is fear, and it is painfully evident in our church and our communities. We fear both change and the unknown. Don't allow fear, discomfort, distance, or anything else interfere with the heart of Jesus. Remember that our enemy works overtime to delay, distract, discourage, and divert us from the mission of Jesus. Our adversaries' desire is for God's children to be blind and silent as we lay in a posture of defeat against the world God uses us to save. These choices of ours extend the distance between us and our lost brothers and sisters, in turn, from God. Increasing wounds to the foundations of generational pain and sin. We've experienced ourselves without Jesus, our hearts were broken, vengeful, wicked, and calloused. Did we have anger? Did we trust or love? Only we can experience and attest to the perfect love that casts out all fear. To the sufficiency of our Redeemer. This is not the case for the lost. How will they know Him if they do not experience Him from us? How will God heal our land if we do not change?

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. Hosea 4:6 AMP

Our brothers and sisters do not die for lack of love, compassion, ability, faith, resources, desire, reach, etc. but for lack of knowledge. This is our responsibility, and it starts with me. God has patiently and relentlessly made His calling for my life evident, and still, I delay. Each part of the body has different responsibilities, each member is given unique gifts and exposure. All with the same Spirit, heart, and mind because we are one body, but as much as we are the church, I am the church. How can I cry to God for not hearing you when He gives me words to speak that are for others to understand. Please forgive me for my delayed obedience to our unified body of Christ.

The ultimate resource for knowledge to recommend is The Bible. We should always seek Him first. Another gospel-centered resource is Woke Church, by Eric Mason. This book is an urgent call for Christians in America to confront racism injustice". Another knowledgable book to suggest is The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander. A few enlightening documentaries to suggest are accessible on Netflix; 13th, When They See Us, Time: The Khalif Browder Story. As you become informed of the past and current reality of our country, declared under God. Your righteous heart will grow, filled with compassion and sorrow. I pray that you would allow your heart, body, and mind to be moved by the Holy Spirit and not our enemy. There is no shame or condemnation in Christ Jesus. Let's take action by creating and joining the conversation and strive towards progress as if tomorrow isn't promised.