We The People...change the world

You matter.

Even though all eyes are glued on what leaders say and do regarding the coronavirus; what you think matters. What you say and do, makes a difference. 

Let us never forget the power and strength of we the people.

“…as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent… widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.” Acts 6:1

Back in the day, when the church was young, just like a toddler, it grew by leaps and bounds.

They got in a squabble, like kids will do, over the distribution of food among the widows. She got a bigger piece than me.

Not much different than today. We’ve got people and problems and others trying to lead the way.

The twelve, (apostles) gathered the believers to address the issue. The wisdom is worth noting.

They stayed the course. “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.” Acts 6:2.

They delegated. “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” Acts 6:3.

They clarified, their mission. “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:4

They. They. They. The focus seems to always be about the leaders and the speakers, which is important, but there’s more to the story.

I love the next verse. It tells us, “the saying pleased the whole multitude” and they chose seven men full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom and the church grew like a teenager in a growth-spurt. Acts 6:5, this verse is vital.

What the apostles did was important, of course. But what about the people? What about the regular folks on the sidelines of the story? What about me and you. The people that are watching the news, not making the news. What about us?

Watching the news, can make us feel scared, angry, insignificant and alone. But when we look into the gospel of Jesus, we see a whole lot of the story is all about us. 

In the greatest story ever told, guess who holds a leading role? The dusty shepherds looking for a lonely manger on a cold night. The old man hanging on just one more day, to see the Promise. The poor widow tossing in all she has, fully trusting in her Provider. And the weary woman longing for someone, just one time to not take her for granted, to see that she has some value, maybe, just maybe let her know, that there’s hope for her to actually after all this time of being rejected, cast aside, counted as nothing, perhaps she could finally be… loved.

You and I are written in to the plot and theme of the story. We play a major part in how it all turns out. Notice the plan of the apostles pleased the people. They were united. There were a million things they could’ve done, but they agreed to be pleased with the plan of the leaders. It was a choice to pursue peace and contentment. They could’ve squabbled over what to serve, fish or chicken; blue table cloths or red… But, instead, like mature believers with their eyes on Jesus, they pursued peace and agreed.

Next, they chose Godly folks for the task at hand. We must demand holiness over eloquence. We don’t need anybody to tickle our ears. We need preachers and teachers to prick our hearts and step on our toes. We need politicians that walk in wisdom, purity and godliness.  

Nowadays, they may be hard to find. We need discernment in a world swimming in deception.

The great thing about the gospel is the unshakable wisdom in its simplicity. Hard, yes—but simple.

If we commit to prayer and study of God’s Word, with the sole purpose of knowing Him, personally, intimately, not just chapter and verse facts and platitudes about Him:

We’ll be given both, fire shut up in our bones and rivers of living water able at any given moment to start a fire or quench a thirst, whichever is needed.

We’ll know when we meet someone with the same Spirit.

I’ve met people from all over the world; and no matter what, rich or poor, city slicker or country bumpkin, rock and roll, opera or rap….if they know, intimately know Jesus, we have a kindred Spirit. We agree on all things that matter.

Those who don’t know the Shepherd are following “leaders” in every arena, including the church, straight to hell.

We the people, will be held accountable. Yes, those “leaders” will too. But we must take responsibility individually.

Jesus told us, warned us, “be careful what you hear” and “take heed that no one deceive you”

The coronavirus has exposed our immaturity. This lazy irresponsible entitlement mindset that says Jesus is my sugar daddy and drinkin’ buddy has got to stop.

We must know for ourselves, His voice, or we will be led astray.

When we the people, hear His voice with discernment and clarity, we’ll lead from our house, through the schoolhouse, the courthouse all the way to the White House. We’ll lead well by following, our Shepherd. We’ll demand holiness and integrity from those in authority or we will fill the roles ourselves.

You may say, it was easy for them, back then, their leaders, the apostles were holy men of God; but it’s a little too late for us; the evil is embedded too deep.

It may seem like that, but the evil is nothing new. Remember, most of the apostles, were murdered for their belief in Jesus. Yet they, never backed down, stayed the course, changed the world.  

This war with coronavirus has killed thousands upon thousands; yet, it's the surface of an iceberg to warn us, what’s underneath can destroy us. We must highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. 

There’s a dark and deep civil war within our shores and it's already pierced a wound so deep, we're on the verge of annihilation. 

It’s up to us, you and me, to start right here right now and call on our God, and get to know Him so deep and clear that we can hear His heart beat. 

For I know, whom I believe and am persuaded, that as long as there’s breath in our lungs and God on the throne, there is hope. 

I will close with quotes from two Presidents. I pray that this day, here and now, we will stand united and change the world, by changing our world...it must begin, within. 

Gettysburg Address 

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. 

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure… 

—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.  Abraham Lincoln

“And this, the United States of America, is your country. 

What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. 

January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. 

The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.”  

(Excerpt: Inaugural Address, January 20, 2017, President Donald J. Trump.)