Through Not To

May 2, 2021 | by Pastor Andrew Blackstone | series: (All)

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At the far end of our quiet mall there is a small collection of children’s rides. Now, you might not have travelled far enough down the empty corridors to know the specific ones I am talking about, but imagine the rides you used to see outside of a grocery store. The ones you put a quarter in to play a song while they move back and forth for a brief minute. My kids used to love those and would beg for a quarter when we ever went near them. As an adult I didn’t understand the allure of these rides, they were rather boring and ultimately went nowhere.

Paul reminds the church in Philippi of an important truth when he said this, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13)

As the Church, we were never meant to be one of these mall rides, instead, a moving caravan never intent on a single destination here on earth, but paying constant attention to where God would have us go and what He would have us do. Sometimes, we believe the lie that God’s mission is about us, about our personal salvation first and foremost rather than His good pleasure. The mission of God, and the mission He has invited ALL of us into was never meant to terminate on you, instead His mission is THROUGH people not merely TO people.

God is calling each of us to not settle for riding the ride to nowhere, but instead to be transformed by the gospel and join the caravan. “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)