GOD WORKS AS WE WORK FOR GOD

Lately I have been very conscious of an exciting, yet sobering truth. God works as we work for God. We take very seriously to be incarnational rather than merely attractional in our ministry. This means that we don't worry so much about putting up a sign "come one come all," we concern ourselves in representing Christ in our lives. In this dynamic, the emphasis is not on drawing people to the church and its ministry by programming or advertising; but on letting the attraction be the Christ at work within us--a work that should be on display while we are beyond the walls of the facility and more than our participation in program.

While we work, God works. He works to multiply the work being done in His name. God often surprises us, revealing His activity beyond our programs, drawing us deeper into ministry where He clearly has set an agenda we have not even imagined.

Two Sundays ago, God did precisely that. In my on-line/email devotional THRIVING IN CHRIST, I recounted our experience. If you'd like to read more of these devotionals, click on the link in this paragraph:

"CABBIE OR ANGEL?"

Reading: Ephesians 3:18-20

Sunday morning we had a visitor to our 10.45 service. A young lady came in just before the service and sat down quietly in the back of the A section. Young, Hispanic, well-dressed. At first I thought it was one of the older kids from Burn or the Agape Center or a mother from the Good News Club, except she was alone. Worship began and she appeared to be participating. When it came to the point in the service where we share God Stories, she raised her hand. Irv handed her the microphone. "This is my first time here." She proceeded to share about a problem she was having with her boyfriend. As the problem had escalated she had decided to cal a cab,to get a little space to cool off and reflect.

The cabbie, after a time, said, "Sometimes the best thing to do is wait." Apparently she began talking to the cab driver. The conversation turned to getting connected with a church. "Do you know a good church," she asked. The cab driver directed her to the Church of God of Landisville. She came. She worshiped with us. She experienced the heart of the community. She told me she'd be back.

We have no cab drivers among our membership, nor do we know of any cab driver connected to our church's ministries.

God works in mysterious ways. But when we see where God is working, we always want to go and work with Him.

(c) 2010 by Stephen L. Dunn