Morning All:
I hope this message reaches you well today. I am a little groggy today after napping off and on on the couch all night instead of dragging myself to bed...not the norm for me at all, but oh, well.
Today's text provides us an opportunity to spend some time with the Ministry of John the Baptist---or as I have come to understand him---the original captain of JC's (Jesus Christ's) street team. Now, today, ya'll know that "street team" terminology is most often applied to the promotion crew for a Hip Hop artist or group who spend their time passing out fliers and promotional materials to pub up the latest party, event or offering of their artist. So, upon reading the text, I really saw JTB (John the Baptist) as one of Christ's advance men out in the streets pubbing up Christ for the crowds.
I was also in church this past Sunday and Pastor---preaching from Joshua 1: 3-5---spoke of the Lord's promise to Joshua: "Wherever you set your foot, you will be on land I have given you from the Negev wilderness to the Lebanon mountains, from the Euphrates rivers to the Mediterranean Sea." So it reminded me again of the Lord providing expansive spaces for his folks to inhabit for HIS works including cyberspaces (smile).
However, these opening passages also reminded me most that the Lord is in need of folks ministering IN ALL KINDS OF PLACES---especially outside of the church. And surely if hip hop street teams or even political campaigns are willing to take their message into all kinds of places, surely we MUST figure out how to take the Good News to seemingly new spaces.
John seemed to be a bit of an odd cat---locust and honey eater, set apart and living in the desert, changing lives on the Jordan and challenging orthodoxy and existing religious leadership. And yet, folks came out into the desert to see and hear bruh-man.
It seemed that folks were willing to leave their comfort zones---and go to this dry place--- to get a fresh word from this different sorta brutha.
The question for us: Are we willing to leave our comfort zone to receive a fresh word...or deliver a fresh word, message, song, media expression of compassion, service or relief? Perhaps if we took our gifts to dry places the Lord would ALSO REFRESH US THERE?
I must admit that this project to blog through the New Testament has certainly been that kind of project. It broke into my life quiet unexpectedly, but it is my aim to use this lil' dry space in cyberspace in the Lord's service. And I am UTTERLY SHOCKED at how the Lord blessing me in this study. And yet I know there is even more to do.
So often, we come to the church house to get a word, dress up, show off new hair, new outfits, cars, spouses or to promote our campaign or product. But John calls us to consider what we do with the message after we get it. John got HIS WORD and found a space to prepare the community for their soon-coming King. Are we taking the word to jobs, schools, prisons, summer fests, parades, picnics, reunions, Block parties, or creating gatherings where the word can go forth?
And i'm not calling for you to be corny wit' it. You may decide to have a Bible-based spoken word set or dinner party featuring Christian artists or films; or put out a table of literature/music/media at your next family gathering; or prayerwalk around your neighborhood a few mornings a week praying for local schools, businesses and households as you burn calories; or pray with a co-worker, friend or family member ON THE SPOT when they bring a concern or gossip to you; or have a monthly DVD potluck at your church to share material from conferences you've attend with your members...and the list continues...
My only point: the mission field is R-I-P-E for us to exploit new ways to witness and minister TO THE SAVED, UNSAVED, AND LONG-BEEN-SAVED...so let's do it and I'm convinced HE'LL bless us as we go.
Be well today!
---Nicole
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