READ Colossians 1:1-14
REFLECT
Have you ever thought of yourself as an agent of change in the world? Or that maybe your life could be a catalyst for even more lives to be changed? Have you ever thought that perhaps God changed your life so that He could partner with you to change the lives of others?
I love the idea of life change being multiplied. Like a ripple effect. When God changes one life, He wants to partner with and use that person to change more lives. Verse 6 in this passage is so clear:
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
There’s the feeling of an “urgent overflow” in this passage. There’s a movement happening! The Good News of Jesus continues to bear fruit everywhere it’s heard. And it’s changing lives.
What does it look like for us to partner with God to have our lives be catalysts of change in the lives of others?
Through this series of devotions, we’ve talked about being FOR people and the opportunities for life change that those moments of intentionality can have in people’s everyday lives.
But there is a life-changing experience we get to be a part of that, for many of the people in our communities, is one they have never experienced before.
The experience of gathering with other people who are on the same journey of discovering what it means to be loved by Jesus and to show that love to our communities. In fact, God has written so many stories at Connexus that start with these 8 words:
“Would you join me at Connexus this week?”
It’s only 8 words, but we know so many whose lives have been changed by Jesus because of this invite. So often, we hear them say, “It was like the person on the platform was speaking right to me.” That’s the Holy Spirit at work. It’s the Good News bearing fruit.
Sometimes it can be intimidating to invite someone to church. Sometimes it can be awkward. Sometimes people say no before they say yes. But that short moment of discomfort in extending an invitation is so worth it when we see that invitation change someone’s eternity.
What if that one invite you extend this week leads someone toward their journey of realizing that God is FOR them?
BOTTOM LINE
One short moment of discomfort could change someone’s forever.
LIVE
Who can you think of who needs to know that God is FOR them? Who you could invite to join you at Connexus this Sunday? Who can you invite again who may have said no in the past? Maybe this is the time they say yes. Push past the temptation to let your discomfort stop you from inviting someone at all. Consider the possibility that your moment of boldness could change their eternity.
PRAY
Pray for specific people in your life, and ask God to give you an opportunity to invite them. Pray that when God gives you the opportunity to invite someone to Connexus, you would have the courage to extend that invitation.
