Hi everyone. Rob here.
I’m thinking about a question. Here it is:
What is the change I want to see in the world?
Before that question I was thinking about another question.
What do I want to do with the rest of my life?
I prefer the first question. Here’s why.
The second question is self-absorbed. It’s about me. What do I want to do with my life? It’s inward looking and it looks to me to generate an answer to it. The second question is outward-looking and it implies that there is some greater work that I can participate in. The second question has an implied question of, what will give me pleasure? The first question has at its core, what will give me purpose?
As a man of faith I have a core desire that lies behind both questions. That is, I want to be about God’s work in the world. The first question helps me get in touch with that desire. The second question, less so. The desire is related to belief. In particular a belief that Ephesians 2:10 is true.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
By asking, what is the change I want to see in the world, I am acknowledging several things. One is that the world needs to change. That seems obvious but we can become very much at home in this world. Our true home is the kingdom of God. And so Jesus prays…
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
The change needed in the world is for God’s kingdom to come into it and take it over. There will come a day when this happens in totality and life in all its fullness will be ours. For now it happens in part and it especially happens when God’s kingdom representatives (that’s you and I and many, many others) bring God’s kingdom to bear in our sphere of influence.
One friend of mine does this in the world of media and social media. Another does it in the classroom. Another does it in the world of science. Others do it by leading churches and ministry organisations. My wife does it through prayer and kindness in our neighbourhood. The list goes on. They see a change they want to see in the world and they go about God’s work in God’s strength to see his kingdom come and his will be done on earth in their sphere of influence.
As for me I’m feeling the need to name the change I want to see to help me focus my activities and be more in touch with what truly energises me. Because God gives us different eyes to see the different changes that the world needs. If we all answered the question of the change we want to see in the same way there wouldn’t be enough change.
So, what is the change I want to see in the world? The answer has always been there. I just need to look at the evidence of my life. As I look at what has energised me, stirred my passions and unlocked my gifts, the answer is freedom. I want people to be free. Free from lies, oppression, religiosity, small-mindedness – anything that keeps people from walking in freedom with God as sons and daughters. Free for worship, intimate friendship, the ability to love and be loved, purposeful activity, joy and so much more.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Ask yourself the question,
What is the change I want to see in the world?
Then look at your life and see what it is you’ve already been working towards. God prepared your work in advance so you’ve probably already been doing it!
Grace and peace everyone.
Brand New Heart Ministries 