Poverty (Namely, Yours & Mine)

A funny thing has been happening during Advent on Wednesday nights. Through our study of Mike Slaughter's Christmas is Not Your Birthday, we have been led into some fantastic conversations on a deep level that have had us talking about our faith, our church, and our commitment to the work of the kingdom of God. For some reason, this particular book has had us all looking at why it is we are a church, who it is we are called to be as Christians, and why commitment to God is not a choice of convenience or eace, but a specific lifestyle of sacrifice and service out of gratitude for the grace of God.

During chapter four, titled Jesus' Wish List, Slaughter made the following observation

The coming of Jesus means that God is with us. Sometimes it is hard to see evidence of that, with all the sorrow and suffering in the world. Many people ask the question, "If God is all-loving and all-powerful, then why doesn't God do something about evil?" The answer to this question is simple: you are the "something" that God is sending to combat evil in this world. Evil will try to convince you that you can't change anything or really make a difference in this world. But, just as Jesus was sent by God to intervene in the world of evil, you were sent by Jesus, along with his power and resources, to bring light into dark places and to bring God's goodness where evil reigns. 

I think I'll end here, and let you mull this one over.

Grace and Peace,

Lamar