Arise!

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:18-21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I have a deep passion to see us arise as the sons of God. It burns in my heart to do whatever I can to help the church take their place. Today I heard a message that stirred that passion even more. One point that leapt out to me was that the earth was placed under the curse when sin entered the world but as we see in Romans 8: 18-21 it isn’t groaning for the second coming of Christ it is groaning waiting for us to arise! As believers we can withdraw from what is happening in the earth around us because we don’t think we can change it but God says otherwise. In Genesis God gives the stewardship of the earth to man. It is our job to impact the earth with His kingdom. Sometimes we don’t step out because we don’t know how but church the truth is He has given us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3)

Sometimes we can withdraw into our routine and stay within the confines of our comfort levels. We journey through our day tackling our to do list but sometimes we can miss opportunities to share with others. Sometimes we hesitate because we don’t consider ourselves an evangelist, we don’t know what to say or how to bring it up but if we make our hearts available God will bring people to us and open a door that can change their lives. This past weekend I went to get a hair cut I desperately needed and I had a new stylist I had never met before. As she began working on my hair we started chatting and God opened a door I did not see coming where she suddenly began to share about a dear friend who passed away recently and I felt God nudge me to walk through that door. I began to share with her about how God got me through some of the darkest days of grief. I was able to share with her about the love of Jesus not from a perspective that she had heard before but by being real and transparent about how He carried me through the worst time of my life. Before I realized it there were five other people in the shop and all of them were listening. No one else was conversing and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I didn’t have some big evangelistic plan I just shared what He has done for me. It was such a great reminder to me to set aside my to do and listen for His voice. Life is not about us, when we accept Jesus it becomes about others. We are called to steward the earth; that means that change will only happen when we arise and take our place and use the authority and love He has given us. If we long to see change in our world know that it starts with us. God sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within us and to seat as co-heirs with Christ.

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:12-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Let us arise and take our place!