Our streets are filled with chaos and confusion. As God’s image bearers, we have a lot of work to do. Jesus said:
See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24:4-8)
Many will read this verse and go about their daily lives without the conviction to impact their world with their gifts, time, and talent. The same Jesus said to occupy until he came and to world while it is still day:
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him. 4While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:3-5)
We are God’s image-bearers. We carry His light and love everywhere we go. Our life should be infectious, leaving people with a hunger to want more. We are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5:14 KJV
We are God’s change-makers. We present to humanity a choice, a possibility that they may not have considered. Jesus changed His world, and it has not been the same since He came into the world. Jesus knew why He existed and lived to that end. According to John 18:37, Jesus said “…to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” Why did God create you what change are you to bring into the world?
We are God’s light. We lead people to a new Kingdom entrance and into new opportunities that they may not have seen before. The blind sees. The deaf hears. The lame walks. We as His image-bearers must walk then run, gaining momentum as we perceive that destiny awaits our obedience to His call.
We are God’s ambassadors. We are here for all people. Although few will flee in desperation to our Kingdom seeking asylum, we stand as His representatives. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.(2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV)
We are His uncompromisingly righteous. Most will choose compromise and attempt to live in two kingdoms. Some will put on shades and continue to stumble about in the darkness. There will be those who, while running for safety, turn to look back and become stuck. Their hearts never left the Kingdom of their origin and continue to suffer the consequences of a compromised life. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. (Matthew 6.24a (ESV).
We are God’s standard-bearers. He leaves us here to show others the way. We are to reflect the characteristics of His Kingdom. Some may ask, “where is your kingdom.” We demonstrate the Kingdom of God. His fruitfulness and faithfulness will be reflected in our daily lives through each act of obedience to Holy Spirit.
We are God’s sent ones. We represent Christ wherever we go. We are to strengthen, encourage, nurture, and train influencers in our sphere of influence. We are not limited to church work. We are to bring His Kingdom to earth by demonstrating our heavenly Father and his principles for transformative living.
We are God’s servant leaders, stewards of a greater God. What we bring to our assignments is His excellency. Martin Luther King Jr said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”
As his image-bearers, we need to grab a broom and begin the arduous task of cleaning our streets. He will empower you with his amazing grace. He will empower you with himself.