I hope you’re enjoying the new look to River’s website, banners and newsletter? I’m thrilled, as the new logo represents who we are at our core. When I joined River back in 1988, the verse of scripture often quoted was Ezekiel 47:9 “Where the river flows, everything will live” (NIV). I think that scripture still captures the heart of who God has called us to be, and I like to say, “Wherever the River flows there will be life!”
We have been overwhelmingly blessed by the love of God shown to us in Jesus. Seeing the world, and ourselves, through the forgiving and compassionate eyes of our Father brings us such joy and peace. Knowing He has chosen us to partner with Him in mending the brokenness we see all around fills our lives with hope and meaning. You could say our lives have been wrecked (in a good way!) by His love and His inclusion of us in His purposes. Our deepest desire is that others would share that joy!
As churches, we bring life in many ways: providing services where folk can meet with God, youth groups giving young people a safe and positive experience where they’re encouraged to make good choices, mother & toddler groups, community lunches, messy church, etc. These are all wonderful and very necessary as they help others see Jesus and His church in a good light; but if we’re going to see our communities truly loved to life, it requires us all to do our bit and intentionally bring life to those we live and work among. If we’re honest, our lives are pretty full and so we can tend to think, “I’m busy just now, but I’m sure God will send someone else to visit, help, befriend, speak to or pray for that person”. Often we never get around to making the time, but the truth is, God is sending us! No-one else might notice the plight or have opportunity to help.
Another hindrance to us stepping out in bringing life is that we can allow the enemy to disqualify us. We can all think of reasons why God shouldn’t use us, but that is forgetting the grace of God. He treats us all better than we deserve and is looking to work through anyone who is willing to trust Him. Last week I had the privilege of bringing life to a few people. Some of us met a homeless man and were able to help him get a bed for a couple of nights until he could pick up his first pay packet. I got to chat to a lady who was desperate and helped her see what God was doing in the midst of her pain, and encouraged her to ask Him into her life. I talked to another seeker who was seeing things in the church that he was dismissing as meaningless. I sat with him for half an hour and he thanked me for helping him see things differently. (I was late home, but I choose to believe it was worth it.) He departed not quite so dismissive of the things he saw in the church. After I had taught at the Ignite course in Newcastle I prayed for the sick. One lady declared that the sciatic pain she’d carried for 4 months had left her; and a man said his foot pain was healed and proceeded to stamp on the floor to prove it!
The truth is, we are all anointed to bring life in Jesus’ name. That’s why we’re called Christian, which means ‘little Christ’, or ‘little anointed one’. It’s also true that we carry this wonderful treasure in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7). We are often under pressure and feel inadequate, but let’s not allow that to stop us. It is normal and means that when we do bring life in His name, He gets the glory! Our lives represent the flow of the River, so let’s aim is to bring joy and life wherever we find ourselves.
Life is not easy so we all need encouragement to live this way, which is a good reason to come to RiverFest16! Julian & Sarah Richards have such an inspirational story and will share their wisdom about how to live like heaven is near, in such a way that the abundant life of heaven breaks into this world through us. The Lord is going to do great things among us that weekend!
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