Grow to be a representative of God

There are so many voices in the world today. All we have to do is turn on the television, listen to commentators, candidates and the media. Everyone has a voice, perspective and view on the situations in the world.

Along with that there are many who are aligned with one another to bring their ideas and changes to the forefront for all to see. We are blessed to live in a country where we experience the freedom to have voices and views, freely expressed, and have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, all given to us by our Creator, and referred to in our laws.

In retrospect, what is the Lord saying to His people? Our focus many times drifts from hearing the voice and commands of the Lord, to being distracted with the voices of the world. We must refocus our attention to the word of God, which is the foundation of our faith. Jesus is the Living Word, and Scriptures contain all that is needed to maintain a godly life in this world.

Second Chronicles 7:14 reads, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land.”

That humbling and repentance must begin with us, the church and its leaders. We are the examples to the world, and many times have fallen so short in setting the proper pace and pattern. We have allowed divisions, selfish ambitions and pride to take the place of love and preference for one another in the body of Christ.

Disguised as humility and righteousness, our personal agendas and self-righteous attitudes are a hindrance to the kingdom of God and its advancement. We become so set in our ways and mindsets that there becomes no room for change. Change that can affect momentum and kingdom building is a good thing. When we pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done” and continue to harbor hindrances in our hearts that stop the very flow of the Spirit of God in the earth, we cannot expect to see the kingdom or the glory of God fully revealed and released.

The Apostle Paul relates in Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, Who is the head, even Christ.”

How can we say we love our brother and have not honor or respect for them? How can we say sins are forgiven when we lead others to Jesus Christ and not forgive our own brothers and sisters in the faith? Brothers and sisters, if we continue to hold offenses against one another, we continue to hold back the move of God in our city.

The spirit of pride is a subtle spirit that grows into a large power and must be broken. It begins in the heart and covers the mind. It is a spirit that feeds division and strives to keep it.

Factions are alive in the body of Christ and within leadership ranks. The word faction is “infighting, dissension, dispute, discord, and schisms.” We have factions that choose to remain in their little kingdoms rather than advance the kingdom through repentance and unity.

Scripture says if you know your brother has an offense against you, go to him and reconcile. Let us not just preach reconciliation – let us be doers of the Word and live reconciliation as a lifestyle.

Finally, above all, let the fruit of the spirit be evidenced in our lives. Let love be without hypocrisy, walking in love and grace toward one another. Love permeates the heart and is deposited in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

All eyes are on the church, the body of Christ. We have a choice; will we grow up, grow into Him and truly be a representative of our God, or allow ourselves to place stumbling before others and give cause for others to reject Christianity? I agree with Jesus: “Father, let them be one as You and I are One” in heart, words and deeds, no matter what the cost.

Patty Scahill of Austintown is a conference speaker and author.