God's Mission Won't Be Stopped By Small Potatoes
Monday Morning Commentary
It’s March! And at Dwelling Place Church, that means its Missions March. We set apart the month to refocus on God’s mission for the church and our individual roles in that mission.
Pastor Craig Mosgrove begins the series with the message, “God’s Mission Won’t be Stopped by Small Potatoes.”
Every life, even the life of a follower of Christ, experiences hardships. Oftentimes, the Christian experiences even more difficulties. In fact, the Bible tells us in 1 Peter 4:12 that we will experience “fiery ordeals.” And in those “fiery ordeals,” we can tend to lose the sense of the reality that we have not been promised to never experience difficulties simply because we’ve given our life to Christ. In the “fiery ordeal,” we are reminded, that when we chose Christ, we chose to be the enemy’s target.
When we chose Christ, we accepted the calling to live, love and look like Him. Therefore, if Christ endured “fiery ordeals,” we too will be led to endure some of our own. It’s imperative then, that, “when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” 1 Peter 4:12-13 (MSG)
Our mission then is to suffer with Christ. And like Christ, by the power of God, we will not only endure the suffering, but we will overcome for the glory of God. If you are currently enduring suffering, don’t be surprised and don’t be discouraged. God isn’t far from you; He’s not left you to fend for yourself. He is with you, just as He was with Christ.
In John 5:8-9, we read the story of a lame man that Jesus healed. For 38 years, people walked past him, never paying him any mind. When he obeyed Jesus’s command to take up his mat and walk, suddenly, he became the center of attention. Instead of being happy for the man, the religious people became angry! Those who ignored him for 38 years now became his enemies.
When Jesus raised you up from your mat of sin and death, some enemies rose up against you! And the devil is doing all he can to get you to go and lay back down on that mat. Don’t do it! When you are enduring hardship, you may tend to think, “I need to decrease my commitment level to God and to His house.” Don’t do it! Your past has nothing to offer you now. Draw near to God in His presence and allow His grace to unfold in your life. Remember that God can work even the worst of trials to your advantage!
Stay the course, keep on mission, He is defeating the enemy as you go and preparing the way to glory!
Written by Michelle Craig