SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE by Pastor Kumuyi of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry for today is here. Digest the word of the lord and pray believing.
Special Study
TOPIC: PIONEERING POSITIVE CHANGE IN A DISRUPTIVE AND UNCERTAIN WORLD
MEMORY VERSE:"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world "(Philippians 2:15)
TEXT: Matthew 5:13-16; Philippians 2: 14-16
We live in a world that is constantly changing. Economic instability, technological evolution, environmental crisis, social fragmentation and global health issues have fueled its attendant uncertainties. Unarguably, these uncertainties have taken a negative toll on the whole humanity, impacting societal values, affecting morals and engendering corruption in diverse ways. Efforts of various governments and well-meaning organizations to ameliorate the effects of these uncertainties have only yielded little or no positive outcome. Unfortunately, the situation appears to be getting hopeless.
But God has not given up on the hopeless world. As a pioneer change agent, He is not willing that anyone should perish but that all should come to repentance. The Church of Christ is God’s agency of positive change in a fast-changing world with fast-eroding values. Hence, believers in Christ must respond to the clarion call for a positive change.
DIVERS DISRUPTIVE ATTITUDES IN OUR UNCERTAIN WORLD
Romans 1:18-32; Galatians 5:19-21; Titus 1:10; 2Thessalonians 3:7-11; Romans 3:9-20; 2 Timothy 3:1-7
The world is in chaos today. There are different disruptions today facing our society in the form of disorderly and unrestrained negative characters and attitudes. These disruptions include undisciplined lifestyles, corruption, unruly, and troublesome tendencies, fault finding, lying, stealing, infidelity, killings, juvenile delinquency, domestic violence, etc. The effects of these vices on individuals, families and nations at large are incalculable. The situation calls for an urgent positive change.
But as can be seen from the Holy Scriptures, God is a pioneer change agent; He has transformed worst sinners and is ever willing to change the toughest of hearts, minds, and nature of all His creatures. Although He hates sin, God is not willing that anyone should perishing. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). These sobering attributes of God underscore the need for the Church of Christ to pioneer a positive change effort.
There can be no better time for this sublime initiative. Thankfully, the Church of Christ has the inherent capacity to champion a positive change in a hopeless world like ours. The reasons are obvious. One, it enjoys the grace of God. Two, it has been empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach all people. Three, it has the backing of God who will have all men to be saved. Four, it has the gospel that is the power of God unto salvation. Five, it has the weapon of prayer to challenge contending forces of darkness. Six, it is riding on the victory of Christ. Seven, it has a divine mandate to do so. To neglect to respond to the cry of the world will amount to dereliction of our sacred duty.
DEALING WITH DEPLORABLE ATTITUDES OF AN UNREPENTANT WORLD
Acts 10:9-45; Matthew 5:13-16; Daniel 3:13-23; 1 Peter 2:12-22; John 4:5-15
To champion a successful initiative for a positive change is the will of God for the Church. Though demanding, it is a doable project. “All things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). But it requires certain collective actions from us. One is positive and willing response to God-given vision. Not all the elders and members in the early Church saw the vision that heralded the evangelization of the Gentile world. Nevertheless, they willingly joined Apostle Peter in the vanguard when they understood it is the will of God. God has given the vision to His servant. We must throw our weight behind him to drive the vision. Two is mindset shift. We must ask God to give us a mindset that believes that Jesus loves and died for everyone irrespective of religion, tribe, nationality, race and colour (1 Corinthians 9:20; 1 Peter 2:15). Three, we must be driven by Christ-like love and compassion for all men, without exception. Four, like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did in Babylon, we must shine as light and show forth courage, grace and fortitude in the face of provocation (Daniel 3:12; 6:1-2, 22). Our communication must be seasoned with grace, humility, decorum, decency and firmness at all times (Colossians 4:6).Five,we must be purged of our biases. Gender bias, racial bias, religious bias, disability bias, and status bias are not of God; hence should be dealt with prayerfully and never to be seen while we interact with our fellow human beings created by God. We must learn to treat others with respect, courtesy and dignity (Galatians 3:28). Six, we must think out creative and innovative ways to passionately preach the gospel to the sinners. Paul the Apostle adapted his approach to different cultural contexts. In essence, we must avoid inflexibility and rigidity in our approach; we must think outside the box, availing ourselves tools offered by technology.
DIVINE DEMANDS FROM UNCOMPROMISED WARRIORS
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:4-5, 12, 21
We should emulate Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as change agents. They stood firm while facing the unpredictable dynamics of life in Babylon. As positive social change agents, they were up to speed with current realities without changing the standard of the word of God. Their calm disposition under provocation mesmerized their attackers. Again, they never used their position to coerce anyone into submission. Also, their lifestyle was blameless before God and persecution never deterred them. God, CHANGED THE “KING’S” WORD and decorated elevated His warriors. As social positive change agents, we are in a battle against social vices, negative attitudes and habits that war against our souls and that of our friends, neighbors, and others. The fourth man in the fire, as Nebuchadnezzar described Him, was the Son of God who left immediately after fellowshipping with His own in the fire. He decorated them with such glory and honor that those who accused them were made to bow before the God of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
In the way, if we stand for the truth in our own lives and try and help others through impacting positive social change, the faithful Lord will decorate us with glory and honor on the final day. Let us not be weary in well doing because in due time we shall reap if we faint not. The same angry, furious, and intimidating Nebuchadnezzar, who was antagonistic, after seeing the miraculous deliverance declared that …”Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon”. (Daniel 3:29-30)
Questions For Review:
What lessons do we learn from God’s approach towards bringing positive social change in Babylonian Kingdom?
Mention some of the negative social disruptions plaguing our societies today
Itemize some of the steps to be taken in dealing with diversities in our modern world
How should Positive Social Change Agents react to provocations today?
What are the rewards awaiting faithful and positive social change agents on the final day?
In what areas as an individual do you want to bring about necessary positive social change in your life?
