You know how you can get a song stuck in your head? A few years ago Chris Tomlin released a song entitled “God of this City.” The chorus proclaims “greater things are yet to come. Greater things are still to be done…” Lately I catch myself humming that song. It seems to be stuck in my head. I have a sense God is telling me something. I have always believed that God can take the bad circumstances of our lives and bring good from them. It is almost always the hard things in life from which we grow. And in every challenge there is an opportunity.
The past year has been challenging it's so many levels. Given my choice, I would never have chosen the loss, the struggle, the pain and the setbacks that Covid has brought. But I know that our God is a god of redemption. He can transform our circumstances to bring blessing from curse, beauty for ashes.
In my mind, I hear the chorus of that song over and over again. Greater things are yet to come. I believe that with my whole heart. I believe God is using this time to sharpen our focus and clarify our vision. As Rock Church, God has called us to proclaim the good news of Jesus to a world that is more lost and hurting than ever. He is calling us to help people grow deeper in faith and increasingly in the likeness of Christ. That is the very definition of discipleship, to become more and more like Jesus.
In a little over a week we will return to in-person worship just in time to celebrate Holy week together. I see this as a pivotal moment for our church. It is more than just a return to what was. It is a new beginning. And I believe God is leading us into a season of life-changing ministry. What Jesus said to his disciples centuries ago I believe he is saying to us today. “The fields are ripe for harvest.” I believe there are many who will come out of this season of Covid seeking spiritually. We have an amazing opportunity to share Jesus and to help people grow in him.
Of course Jesus also said we should pray that God would send workers into the harvest field. So I am praying that as we come back together, we would come with a passion and desire to share the hope of Christ with those around us. With our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers and families. I pray that we can bring the love of Christ into our divided and broken world. And I pray that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, lives would be transformed and hope would be restored. I absolutely believe that greater things are yet to come.
Have a blessed week. Share the love of Jesus. And know that greater things are yet to come.
God Bless,
Pastor Steve
BTW, just a reminder that our Easter Eggs-perience is coming up on Saturday March 27. This a a family outreach event we are hosting at our Sandown campus. We still need a few volunteers and donations of candy. See all the information at this link. Register for the event here.