The Essential Ingredient
"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.'" - Acts 1:4
Imagine walking into a KFC, craving their famous chicken, only to be told, “We don’t have any chicken.” It's baffling, right? This was my experience in college. The restaurant had plenty of sides and desserts, but they lacked the one thing they were known for: chicken. This experience reminds me of a crucial question we must ask ourselves about the church today: Are we offering what people desperately need?
Just as a chicken restaurant should have chicken, the church should offer a deep connection to God, a message of hope, and the love of Christ. However, too often, people leave church feeling disappointed, hurt, and unfulfilled. They come seeking connection, hope, and healing but sometimes receive judgment, criticism, and division instead.
In Acts 1:4, Jesus instructed His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit. This was essential because the Spirit is the key to experiencing God's power and presence. Without the Spirit, our efforts as a church can fall flat, like a KFC without chicken. We need the Holy Spirit to truly fulfill our mission and offer what people need most: a connection to God’s person, power, and plan.
Reflect on your own life and your role within the church. Are you helping to create an environment where people can encounter God? Are you living in a way that reflects the love, joy, and peace of the Spirit? Are you part of a community that points others to the hope and healing found in Christ?
If we are to be effective in our mission, we must ensure that we are filled with the Holy Spirit and led by His guidance. This means cultivating a personal relationship with God, praying for the Spirit’s presence in our lives, and actively seeking to embody Christ’s love in our interactions with others.
As you go about your day, ask yourself: Are you providing what people desperately need? Are you pointing them to the person, power, and plan of God through the Holy Spirit? Let’s commit to being the church that truly offers the life-giving connection to God that people are searching for.
Imagine walking into a KFC, craving their famous chicken, only to be told, “We don’t have any chicken.” It's baffling, right? This was my experience in college. The restaurant had plenty of sides and desserts, but they lacked the one thing they were known for: chicken. This experience reminds me of a crucial question we must ask ourselves about the church today: Are we offering what people desperately need?
Just as a chicken restaurant should have chicken, the church should offer a deep connection to God, a message of hope, and the love of Christ. However, too often, people leave church feeling disappointed, hurt, and unfulfilled. They come seeking connection, hope, and healing but sometimes receive judgment, criticism, and division instead.
In Acts 1:4, Jesus instructed His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit. This was essential because the Spirit is the key to experiencing God's power and presence. Without the Spirit, our efforts as a church can fall flat, like a KFC without chicken. We need the Holy Spirit to truly fulfill our mission and offer what people need most: a connection to God’s person, power, and plan.
Reflect on your own life and your role within the church. Are you helping to create an environment where people can encounter God? Are you living in a way that reflects the love, joy, and peace of the Spirit? Are you part of a community that points others to the hope and healing found in Christ?
If we are to be effective in our mission, we must ensure that we are filled with the Holy Spirit and led by His guidance. This means cultivating a personal relationship with God, praying for the Spirit’s presence in our lives, and actively seeking to embody Christ’s love in our interactions with others.
As you go about your day, ask yourself: Are you providing what people desperately need? Are you pointing them to the person, power, and plan of God through the Holy Spirit? Let’s commit to being the church that truly offers the life-giving connection to God that people are searching for.
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