Impact Your CitySample

Reach your City 

Sociologist Rodney Stark states this: "Early Christianity was primarily an urban movement." This is very interesting. I did not know this until I studied it this week. The original meaning of the word pagan was “rural person” – or another way of saying this would be “country hick.” The term came to have religious meaning because, after Christianity had triumphed in the cities, most of the rural people remained unconverted. 

Isn't that interesting, that pagan, meaning “non-believer,” was a word used for somebody in the rural communities because Christianity had so much to do with city influence? Haven't you seen a shift in modern times where cities have gone away from Christ and country towns have stayed with Christ? Both are important, but we've lost the culture for Christ because we've lost the cities. And yet, from its earliest days, Christianity was mainly associated with the cities. You look at the book of Acts and it's a thrust of missions to the cities. 

If your heart is desiring to get involved in your city, to volunteer and to love others well, what if you started by saying, "Lord, for Your glory, your power, your heart, I will reach my city." The fact is that Jesus is going to return. You've got to be somebody who loves well, is hospitable, and is using your giftedness. Why? So that your life can be about His glory and His power, and about an impact that can outlast your life. You are a difference-maker. You have a history-changing, Spirit-empowered, life-giving legacy to leave. 

You are a difference-maker that steps out from simply attending church to being the church. So step forward at this moment and go for it. This is about you growing in your faith in Jesus Christ. This is about understanding that there is something bigger than your life and your plans. This is about you being a part of all the great things that God is doing in your city. That is powerful. I invite you to pray, give, and go. 

For more on this devotional follow the link https://houstonsfirst.org/message/impact-your-city