Pastor's Perspective Articles:

April 2008: Elder Phil Steckmann
March 2008: Elder Ed Gann
February 2008: Elder Rob Wiggins
January 2008: Elder Dr. Steve Stephens
December 2007: Elder's Perspective
November 2007: Thankful for Broken Things
October 2007: God Rubs Off
September 2007: Have you ever gotten it wrong?
August 2007: Belize Journal, July '07
July 2007: What's the picture of the church?
June 2007: Making the Complex Simple
May 2007: Majesty

October 2007 - God Rubs Off

That was the title of our focus for Seek God Sunday morning last Sunday. In case you’ve missed it, 15 - 20 people from our church gather every Sunday morning at 8:15 am to praise God for who He is and to seek God for our church (we'd love to have you join us in B-208). This has been our privilege for the last 5 years. Ed Gann was our facilitator last Sunday. God had prompted him to this idea, "connecting with God could change your life, in fact it should change your life forever." That caught my attention, and I've been pondering it all week. God, by His very nature, rubs off on us, but so does a lot of other things. How do I make sure He has the greatest influence?
The book of Acts is one of the best places to see how Jesus rubbed off on the early church.

Acts 11: 26
"So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."

They were called "Christians". That meant that they were Christ followers, they were those who belong to the household of Christ. This at first was a term of decision, that other people gave to these Christ followers. Later they embraced it and it became a hallmark of courage and of their spiritual identity. God rubs off on us. If we are genuine, it can't help but happen. Earlier in the book of Acts this is said:

Acts 4:13
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." I was captured by two thoughts. First, that these were "unschooled ordinary men" That sounds a lot like me and you. Second, that they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

That was a powerful statement. They had been with Jesus and Jesus rubbed off on them, so that other people were astonished and took notice. Then, I wondered, do people take note that I've been with Jesus? Are they astonished that I reflect God in my life by what I say and what I do? How about you? Do people that you live and work with, know that you have been with Jesus? How would they know? Or do they just see ordinary men and women who have the same look as everybody else in the world? Because it's the world that’s rubbed off on us.

As a father, I'd be proud to think that I rubbed off on my sons, that they were Giant, Trailblazer and 49'er fans, good coaches, Godly fathers, loving husbands and influential leaders. That people see them as gracious Christians, forgiving friends, wise advisors, generous givers and humble men. I'd be thrilled that they wanted to identify with me and that my hopes, dreams, values and aspirations rubbed off on them. This will only happen if I've got something worth rubbing off, and they decide that they want to be with me.

If there's any doubt that Jesus has something worth rubbing off? In fact, He can change our life. Our focus then, is simply putting ourselves in places where we can be with Jesus and being with people who want to be with Jesus. Can I offer a few suggestions? How about reading your Bible, being part of a small group or Sunday School Class. How about seeking God in prayer, being part of our Fresh Encounters, or going to the women's prayer retreat in October? Could being part of consistent worships on Sunday mornings or in your car on the way to work, connect you to Jesus? When we connect with God, He rubs off.

When we connect with people who are sincerely seeking to connect with Jesus, people will take note. If people can't tell that Jesus is rubbing off, then we probably need to be more with Jesus and less with some other things.

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