ACTIVE OR EFFECTIVE

To be active for God is one thing, but to be effective for God is another. Anyone can be active but not everyone will be effective.

Being “active” can be compared to “riding” a stationary bicycle: there is a lot of motion but no movement. Or, we can compare it to spending an hour in a rocking chair going back and forth: you end up in the same place having gone nowhere.

To be an effective Christian means that we are making a positive, nourishing, helpful impact on the world with our lives. It means that we are living lives that are making a difference in the lives of others – a difference that can be seen, a difference that can be felt, and a difference that will bring others to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

We begin this life of effectiveness by giving our life to God through the work of Christ. When we give our lives to Him, He will accept us as we are and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And when He cleanses us, He will fill us with power that comes from His Holy Spirit abiding with us. When He fills us with His Spirit, He can use us.

There are many things we can do, but only one thing we must do. Paul said, “Present your bodies to God!” God has pleasing and perfect plans for all of us to do His work effectively. But first, we must “present” ourselves to Him.

Prayer:  Lord of our lives, help us to understand how much You want us to work with You in reclaiming Your world. May we present all that we are to You, now! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:  And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1