Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Being Fruitful where you are

2 Corinthians 5v20 “ So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”.”

The last few Sundays, we have been thinking about how God works through us on our “Frontlines”. By frontline, we mean wherever we are during the week whether we are among family, friends, work colleagues, customers, etc. We have been picking up 3 key principles for what we do wherever we are:

  • Modelling Godly character – We show the fruit of the Spirit in the world in every situation. Galatians 5v22 says “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” They are called fruit of the Spirit, because it is the work of the Spirit in us. Galatians 5v22
  • Making Good work – We recognise that the basis of both paid and voluntary work is service. In particular, for us, this is service to our Lord Jesus who will reward us at the appointed time. Colossians 3v23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
  • Ministering Grace and love – Jesus has so loved us that he has given us what we do not deserve even when we were his enemies. So we are to show the same grace and love to those we find difficult. 1 John 4v19 says “We love because He first loved us.”

Just imagine what the places you go to during the week would be like if everyone exercised godly character, made good work and treated people well irrespective of what they deserve. Wouldn’t they be a fantastic place to be. You and I get to make a difference. We are salt and light in the world. We are ambassadors of Christ. We get to show the world a better way to live and to work.

You and I may not be able to change the whole world, but in the words of the old song “Jesus bids us shine, with a pure, clear light … you in your small corner, and I in mine.” We can each change the world for the better in the places we are. In the words of a very modern children’s song, “We are world changers”! – How exciting!

With love and blessing,

Roland