Matthew 21 – The opposite of reduce, reuse, recycle

“I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce fruit.”

If we are not producing new disciples of Jesus then we are failing.  If people are not turning their lives over to Christ then our churches will be taken away from us or will dwindle into obscurity.  We were not called to recycle Christians from other churches.  We were not called to only care for those who have already found Jesus.  We are called to produce new fruit; new Christians.  This is not measured by the size of our gatherings, or the amount of money we send to missionaries.  It is measured one person at a time.  It is measured by each new heart that turns from death to life; from selfishness to Christ.

In the same vein we cannot assume that we are following God’s will merely because our churches are large or because we feel successful.  If we are not producing new followers of Jesus then our size and strengths are merely distractions that keep us from fulfilling our duty as disciples of Jesus.

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A Prayer

God of Change,

You bring us through change and you change us.  You allow change and you rule over change.  Guide us as our relationship with you changes and our faith in you changes.  Do you change?  Bring change, but be with me through that change.  Bring change, but not what I want, what you will.  I am tired and feel the need for change, but change or no change refresh me.

Be with me in times of teaching this week.  Help me know how to lead.  Be with me in times of work this week.  Help me to stay focused.  Be with me in times of struggle this week.  Help me to not give up.  May this week be a blessing to me, my family, those I love, and all those in my community this week.  Make me a blessing.  Keep me from evil and from being evil.

Out on the highways and byways of life,
Many are the weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing;
Out of my life may Jesus shine.
Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
Tell of His pow’r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True every moment you live.

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing;
Out of my life may Jesus shine.
Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Give as ’twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing;
Out of my life may Jesus shine.
Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Thank you God. Amen.

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