Reed Mueller

Last weekend we were able to talk about what has been on my heart, and the hearts of many in leadership here at CRCC, with regard to the goal that God has given us for 2008. You can listen to the message, taken from Colossians 1:24-29, in a variety of ways (download or listen online/podcast feed/iTunes).

The call for this year is that everyone within the congregation – and everyone within reach of someone in our congregation – might grow closer to Christ between now and the end of the year; stated in five words, the goal is “Every Person Closer to Christ.”

What does this mean? It means that by year’s end we are working, hoping, and praying to help people inch closer to Christ in their mind, heart, and actions. Not just in one way, but in all three ways! It would be a pity to have warmer feelings toward or about Jesus, but fail to also be closer to him in actions in the “real world”…for then the world could not see him reflected through his Body. It would also be a pity to be closer to him in both feeling and action and yet not have the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) with regard to how one sees oneself, others, and God…for “religious” vision, when impaired, is exceedingly dangerous (Luke 6:39).

So how do we grow closer to Christ in mind, heart, and action in 2008? As I shared in my message the other day, the key is found in the pages of Scripture and our approach to it:

• We must receive the Bible as God’s word to us. When we do we will come to understand that this is his “letter” to us. Want to hear God speak to you? Open the Book.
• We must also respond to what we’ve heard. As we do we’ll begin actual movement toward Christ. It may be because we  are called to change our mind in some way. It may be because we come to trust his promises in a deeper way and therefore our heart softens to his love. It may even be because we are challenged (and empowered) to act in some new way in how we treat ourselves or others or God.
• Finally, as a consequence of our receiving and responding, we will reflect him through our lives. This is the end result of God’s word working within us; this is his purpose in it – that we might perfectly reflect Christ in our world (Colossians 1:28; Colossians 1:24)!

So that’s the means to the goal “Every Person Closer to Christ.” We must receive God’s word to us, respond “faith-fully,” and in so doing reflect him in our world. As we receive and respond we move closer to Christ. As we reflect him in the world, others will see a living picture of him that inches them closer to Christ as well!

That’s the call…and it can happen in your life and mine! Really! Take heart and dive into God’s word this year…because it will accomplish the purpose of God in your life (Isaiah 55:9-12)!

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