The Anointing

Someone asked, “What will the anointing look like when it's not clouded by man's opinion?" I answered, “It would appear as a perfect blending of grace and power, gentleness and strength. Clothed in humility, inspired by holiness and motivated by love, it would be Christlikeness personified."  This is what true anointing would look like.

Prayer to Start My Day

Lord,
Go before me and prepare my path
   that I might walk in it.
Go before me and smooth my path
   that I might not stumble.
Enlarge my path and uphold me with Your
strong right arm
   that I might not slip.
Keep me focused on Jesus
   that I wander neither to the left nor the right.
Guard my mind;
Guard my speech;
Guard my heart and guide my steps
   that I might walk before you in righteousness
      and truth, mercy, humility, and holiness.
I commit this day to you.
Amen.

God's Idea

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said. "The Church is Christ existing as community." 

The Church is God's idea. It is the visible, physical representation of Christ on earth. It is not the man's creation. Oh, there are problems and concerns within the Church that were created by man, but the Church is how Jesus chooses to show Himself to the world until He returns.

Those who say they are Christians and want nothing to do with the Church, are saying, "God, I don't like Your idea! I want to say I am a part of the Body of Christ, but I choose to be amputated from it. I want a religion on MY terms, not Yours!" The isolated-by-choice Christian is in rebellion, not just to God's idea, but to God Himself. This person will see limited personal growth, minimal spiritual fruit, and will actually hinder true advancement of Kingdom of God in their own circle of friends and family. Yes! God loves the individual, but when Jesus returns, He will be coming for the Church, not for a bunch of individuals who want nothing to do with His Beloved.

God expects followers of Jesus to dwell in loving community, where worship, discipleship, service to others, and evangelism is evidence and testimony to the world that they are loved by their Creator. We have often heard and perhaps even said, "All you need is Jesus!" If that were true, Jesus wouldn't have established the Church. We need the Church! It is God's idea.