Make a Difference A Day -- 2014 Reprise

Yesterday, I was reminded that this blog might entirely have disappeared into the mists of past time, repeatedly. So if you will indulge me digging up the first blog of MMW, here is the vision application of Mad Mad World.

"God has given us his Spirit. That's why we don't think the same way that the people of this world think. (1 Corinthians 2:12, CEV)

Welcome to what is for me a new venture one that God has leant on me about. It will be about innovation in doing Church and opening up options on into evangelism, mission and church community, looking from outside the box that is the Church community.

The title stems from a group that was formed at a church we fellowshipped in about 3 stops ago. It was an accountability type group with a gospel bent, and the name was MAD; an acronym for Make A Difference.

Using analogy, with the church as a theatrical group of Headliners and Chorus, the Headliners get the recognition but cannot carry the show while the Chorus is the “everybody else” who do not get the recognition except on a first person relationship

My fundamental belief is that God uses Billy Grahams and, now who was it who introduced him to Jesus?  God uses the Billy Grahams of evangelism to move the unchurched people into a position where they can hear, and hopefully experience the Gospel.  While the Gospel can be introduced, but the discipling is something that is done by the rest. By the same token, if when the rest do not live up to the new Christian’s expectations he or she will be out the back door in no time flat.  And, in all probability, it will be harder to reach them next time.

The above was a roundabout way to introduce the concept that it is the little things in our lives that make a difference. If we treat people with love, even the “checkout chicks”, it may take time, for that love to be recognized but then Jesus can be introduced. Patience is the key with this kind of gospel but who has something better to do.

If people see us regularly doing things that they would never consider doing, they have to make a judgement call as to why.  This in turn can lead them to ask the question that DL Moody is reputed to have asked.  A senior salesman was finishing up that day and his prayer had been, for 40 years that he might be allowed to lead someone to the Lord. Suddenly here was this junior stock boy coming up to him and saying just those words. “You are different will you tell me why?”  The guy with tears of gratitude in his eyes, proceeded to tell DL about his Saviour; his Main Man as some might say today.

Jesus said “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.”           Luke 4:18-19

Isn’t this just the sort of focus we should have as we go about our daily work and lives.  Seeing those we come across in the light that He sees them and loving them just as He does. It may be difficult at times, but as Jesus Ambassadors it seems, to me, that it is a part of our job description just as much as our paid or unpaid work.