Got Change?Sample

PRIORITIZING CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH

The world has become fast-paced and everyone and everything is demanding our time. So we try to compartmentalize our life and make schedules to meet the increasing demands. When an adjustment needs to be made, the first thing that gets cut from our schedules is our time with God, followed by our time with the Church, and our time with our family. Money demands our priorities. We slowly drift away as our priorities alter until one day we can barely hear God our Father and identify with His family. Meanwhile, our family has learnt to cope without us. If that is you, then it’s time to re-prioritize your life based on what has eternal importance. Take stock of your life. Invest your time into what lasts for eternity.

Jesus said, I am building my church (community of believers, family of families) and the gates of hell will not be able to prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). This is what the Holy Spirit is doing – He is bringing people back into a relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross. He is gathering those who believe into communities (church) and chooses to dwell amongst them as they learn and live the teachings of Christ, reflecting Him and His love for all. This is what Christ is building. Jesus said that if we, as His children, as His community, are not working toward the same goal, then we, in actuality, are opposing Him and working against Him. We end up toiling for temporary rewards and miss out on building for eternity.

To accept Christ is to accept His family (the Church) and to choose Him is to choose to belong to His community. To prioritize Christ (the Head) is to prioritize His Church (the body): there cannot be an’ either/ or’- it is ‘both/ and’. Would you work for food that does not perish? Will you invest into building His kingdom? It is nothing but living according to the teaching of Christ, so that whatever I do, I do for the sake of Christ and His church. I work on my character, I build my family, I work diligently and actively participating in the life of the Church, all for the purpose of building and establishing His kingdom.

The CHALLENGE to Change:

Are you giving only your spare / left- over time to God and His Church, when in fact He deserves your best time and efforts? Log your time today to see where it is being spent. At the end of the day, take a moment to re-prioritize and re-plan your time, giving Christ and the building of His Church the best of your time.