God Wants Me to Change the World?

Hi all. Last week we talked about world changers in large group. We heard from Rachel how God used her and her friends, with all their history, to lead a global project this past summer. We also followed Matthew to the end of Jesus' time with him and the rest of the disciples. It is amazing to think that Matthew started out at the bottom of society, someone hated by everyone for taxing their money and not being true to the Jewish culture. Tax collector was a negative term to describe worthless and evil people. Jesus called Matthew, and Matthew followed Him right away, in his home, with his friends, to the end of Jesus time on earth, and beyond. Rachel and her friends are a modern-day tangible example of this very same thing. One liked to stir things up and cause interruption, and another kept a good impression on the outside but was insecure on the inside. What God is trying to tell us is this: it does not matter what your past, what people have called you and labeled you, what you have done to yourself or what you call yourself. God wants to take your life story, renew you in His love and identity, and make something awesome out of it. Matthew is the writer of one of the four gospels in the Bible. Rachel allowed God to transform her, go on staff with InterVarsity and transform the UNM campus. What could God do through you?

We all come from different places. Some of us have been wounded and hurt by others. Some of us have made wrong choices that we are dealing with to this day. None of us is without sin. The glorious thing about being a follower of Christ, is His plan to redeem everything in our lives. God wants to make things right in your life. For me, personally, I have met some of the most harsh and some of the kindest people. Jesus is the best of them all. He is the kindest and strongest person you could ever have in your heart and life - the one to complete you, make you whole, and make you a world changer. God changed Matthew from despised in society to cherished in His kingdom. Wherever you are in your relationship with God. Take a few moments to consider where you are in life, where God wants to take you and how He wants to make you into a world changer. The impact could can be right in your town. It could go across the world through you or those you disciple. It does not matter where you and your influence go. It is about souls in need of a savior.

Psalm 1:1 says that those that are rooted in God and away from wrong influences are "like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither." Just remember that you may not be changing the world all the time, but you will do it at the right time and stay in healthy balance all year long when you are close to God, in His word daily, and hearing from Him. So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, "As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7 RSV)