Loading ...Alive!
Even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead! (Ephesians 2:5)
Death is a strong word! But Paul, the apostle, uses this word to describe our condition in sin: dead!
In contrast, he says that God made us alive in Christ Jesus. What a radical change! This is the amazing message of God’s mercy! We were once dead, now alive.
As leaders in the church we must never forget the “dead” days. Ministry is tough and grueling. It can discourage the strongest of those who lead within the local church. We can wonder if it is really worth it to put up with the challenges and frustrations that come with church work.
In such moments we must draw ourselves back to the source of who we are. We lead in the Church, which is God’s choice instrument through which the good news is being spread about people changed by Jesus Christ–once dead, now alive!
The marvelous hope of the Gospel is our fuel. It is a great cause, which God entrusts us with. It is a cause of cosmic proportion…the greatest message to ever hit our planet! It is the core reason we lead in the church.
What is most marvelous is that the message of Jesus is very personal to each of us who are Christians. We all have been spiritually dead and in Jesus are now alive. This is a gift given to us. It is a beautiful gift of grace.
So, when the ministry setting gets tough or frustrating, it is time to huddle close to the very reason you lead in the local church. We are driven by one thing alone: God’s graceful and life-giving touch. This is what matters, even if all else fails!
As you lead, be fueled by the hope that has made you alive. All else will fade when you rally around the Gospel message. This is our hope; this is our gift of life!
Read it! Read Ephesians 2:1-10. Take note of how Paul describes our condition in sin and in God’s grace.
Apply it! Does your spiritual life feel dead or alive? What can you do this week to bring life back into your role as a leader in the church?
