Reformation Report

Without people the vision will perish

Although we must submit to those in authority, once those in the submitted public do so there is a power within that “governmental” structure that now comes from the bottom up. It’s a bit difficult to comprehend but we have to realize that there are fewer people in authority than there are potentially in power.

Think about what the Bible says “Without a vision the people perish,”. There always has to be visionary leaders, someone that drives a certain vision be it good or bad. But never forget, “without people the vision perishes.” Without people vision cannot advance, because ultimately the vision impacts and has influence on the people, and without their support and contribution it is going to be frustrated at best or die a natural death. In situations of good leadership the vision is for the good of the people, the converse being true   with a repressive regime or oppressive leadership. National or Corporate leadership can be selfish. But God created us to function in relationship. There is a dynamic that should never be forgotten, especially by those who lead, leadership needs the support of those that follow. Even God himself functions within the confines of the Godhead, a cooperation and submission to authority and designated roles.

If the people in submission are more than those in authority, they theoretically possess the numeric power, to ensure success, or failure, of the vision.  The power in the populous is only a potential power, until it is strategically harnessed.  Currently in the United States, we are seeing one of the most popular leaders, President Barack Obama, facing the power of the populace that placed him in office as they are voicing strong opposition to his Health Care Reform Bill. His power to lead is only as effective as the follower’s willingness to be lead. Response to national situations and involvement in their resolution, at whatever level we choose, is our choice, however it is also our obligation and responsibility to be involved. As disciples of the kingdom of God, we are negligent if we do not become participants in reformation.  Every believer has a responsibility to act and speak in the domains where their influence is being exercised. We should not leave all the decisions to the people we put in authority. Even if we are under authority we should know that we can make decisions that can effect change.

No matter how small our role seems within any vision, be it that of our country, church or the company we work for, we need to always remember that within the role we play we can utilize our influence and exercise a degree of power. We decide if and how to use our influence, and there in lies the power of followers. That’s why voting, participating in national dialogue, engaging in issues of national and community development and involvement in the formulation of national policies, is a God-given mandate. ”We are all a part of something so much greater than ourselves.”  Involvement is also an honor and a privilege that each of us should exercise with great responsibility. Without our contribution and participation, the vision of our nations and communities will be hampered at best, and difficult or impossible to attain at worst.

We are part of a great and mighty people.  We have significant roles to play and we can use the gifts that God has given us… the greatest being our free will and the freedom of choice.

What does our today say about our history?

When we read the Bible, does it seem surreal to us?  Perhaps we don’t doubt that that all those things happened, but we just cannot relate them to our lives?  Are the stories of valiant men like Moses, Gideon, David or Jesus so out of this world, that we cannot imagine ourselves ever doing anything similar to them, not even vaguely connected?

The truth is, that our lives today are tomorrow’s history. History is not set, and as humans we have within ourselves the power to write history. Will the records show we bobbed along the river of life, knocked here or there by circumstance, with life just happening to us, or will we be seen as the chief architects in our lives? We actually do chart the course that our life takes, by the thoughts we keep, the emotions we allow in our lives and the decisions that we make. Like all the men in the Bible we have the power to change whatever we are doing today. Noah changed the course of history by just following the instructions that God had given him. His diligence and obedience changed the course of history for all mankind.

You and I might not build an ark or save the human race from extinction, but I am certain that the decisions that we are making today in our lives, in our professional careers, or as a part of a family or community, not only affects our futures, but also the legacy that we leave for our children, our societies and our nations.

Let us leave a legacy, a name and a story that will inspire the generations to come. What are we doing today that is going to be read about tomorrow? 

 

Nehemiah The Reformer

One of my favorite Bible stories is about Nehemiah the reformer, who took the responsibility of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and restoring its gates. This was no small task because at that time the wall of Jerusalem had been broken down, it’s gates had been destroyed by fire, and there was only a remnant of Jews left, most of whom had just returned from living in exile. Add to this that Nehemiah was a slave to an enemy king, and was not an Architect!

 

You and I are like Nehemiah in a lot of ways. We are gatekeepers in the Kingdom of God, who must take responsibility for the lands, domains, and spheres that God has given us. We can influence the relationships, the policies, the vision, and the direction our particular sphere touches. Whatever profession we are in, whether a teacher, banker, politician, lawyer, parent or student, that is the area that God has given us to build for Him. We need to take responsibility like Nehemiah did, and rebuild the gates of our part of the Kingdom.

 

Like the broken down walls of Jerusalem, our industry may be deformed by corruption and lawlessness, and the standards may have been eroded away. We may be feeling the effects of the economic downturn, plus the influence of countless other negative forces.  But we need to understand that we can make a difference. If we just stand up and start to take responsibility for our area, first in prayer by visualizing a better future for our industry, or profession, for our sphere of influence, then we can put plans into place and start building right where we find ourselves. Again like Nehemiah we need to have plans in place to bring about the changes and rebuilding where we have been assigned. It has been said, “If we fail to plan, then we are planning to fail.”

 

Nehemiah was not an architect, he was a slave, a cup-bearer for King Artaxerxes of Persia, but we can see that he was instantly ready to answer the king’s questions about his plans, because he was thinking of Jerusalem. I think by the time he was through building Jerusalem’s walls he knew more about building walls than most of the builders in his time. Ongoing education should become a lifestyle, and we should make it part of our culture. We are being used by God to rebuild the breaches in the walls of our lives and that of our churches and societies. Let’s not be weary in the task.

Sarcasm

Have you ever seen children playing and one throws a sarcastic comment at another. Sometimes that child gives as good as they’ve just received, which usually starts a dispute, but often you’ll see a pained look in the eyes of the child receiving the sarcasm.

 

Perhaps you know a teenage child who has started feeling embarrassed about spending time with their parents because friends at school mock them. As adults we have grown accustomed to hearing sarcasm bantered around as if it was an acceptable way to communicate. Sarcasm is in all reality not humorous, but is expression of negative and undercutting declarations. Frequently if these are directed at us personally, we pretend that these cutting remarks do not affect us, whether they are said in the name of humor, or are intentionally undermining.  But in reality ‘sarcasm is the lowest form of wit’. The truth is that, ‘although sticks and stones may break our bones, words can also harm us!’ 

 

Sarcasm is derived from the Greek word “sarkazo”, meaning “to tear flesh”. Sarcasm can be very harmful if we give sanction to it in our lives. It tears down a person’s self worth and self esteem, and belittles and stops our growth in the area it’s directed towards. If we accept negative remarks from anyone, be it friend or foe, as being true, they can stay with us for life.  Sarcastic words can develop into injunctions that affect our core value system and can influence our belief about who we are and what we can and cannot do with our lives.

 

This is why it is important to be aware not only of who we allow to speak into our lives, but what are they saying and how they are saying it. Is it positive or negative? Does it foster growth or stunt growth? Is it life giving or does it bring about death? One way to check if a cutting remark has ‘hit home’, is whether we can hear the comment repeating itself in our minds. The truth is that we have the power to silence these remarks and eliminate the effect they have had on us. We do this by speaking positive truths about ourselves, as affirmations, based on the word of God.

 

As people have a tendency to resist change, we need to be aware of any negativity resident in us, and determine not to allow it to stay, but to embark on a journey of transforming ourselves  and our minds to become who God ordained us to be.