IF JOHN WROTE A LETTER TO THE CHURCH TODAY…

“Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Smyrna: ‘The One Who is First and Last, the One Who died and came to life again, says this…’”  (Revelation 2:8 NLV)

In the book of Revelation, John includes a lengthy passage addressed to seven churches, commending some and correcting others. The letter affirms service, patient endurance, courage, faithfulness, aliveness, sacrifice, and passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ. The letter also tells the truth about lukewarm commitment, poverty of spirit, waning love, lost focus, conflict, and division. The churches are invited and encouraged to come back, turn around, and return to their former passion and mission. Each of the seven churches is addressed personally in ways that are contextual, authentic, and tailored to its own circumstances. The tone is both pastoral and prophetic, positive and critical, encouraging and honest, building up communities while also holding them accountable. 

…Suppose your congregation received such a letter. What would the letter say? What characteristics, spiritual qualities, practices, and ministries would be commended, worthy of praise, affirmed, and celebrated? And what characteristics, spiritual qualities, practices, and ministries of your congregation would be prophetically challenged, called into account, pierced by the spirit of truth? What truth would you be asked to confront? How would your congregation be invited to change? 

-- Bishop Robert Schnase, excerpted from his “Five Practices Blog”

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LOOKING FOR LOVE

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16 NLT)

You’ve known someone who looked for love “in all the wrong places,” in the worst places. Desperate to feel wanted, that man or woman jumped from love interest to love interest, but the results were rarely good.

But all of us, if we were honest, could admit we desperately need love. This harsh world attacks us if we have no one to love and be loved by. Our empty hearts begin to despair when love seems to pass us by.

What many hurting people -- even some Christians -- fail to recognize is that human love only goes so far. Exciting romance feels good, but it doesn’t solve every problem; in fact, it can be the beginning of even bigger troubles, if you’re not careful. Then the hurt of love gone wrong can dry out your soul. It’s not the love this world is founded on, so it can never give us all we need.

But there’s one love that every person -- weak or strong, rich or poor, single or married -- can enjoy. It won’t lead to a bad place or break a heart. It doesn’t die out, as so many romances do, and no one feels used at the end of it. God’s love is perfect, so no baggage ties it down or ruins it. Not only that, God’s love never ends. He plans to bring us into eternity through His Son, Jesus Christ. So the love that buoys us up today never disappears.

The love of the Savior, it’s the best of both worlds. 

-- Adapted from “Daily Wisdom to Satisfy the Soul” by Pamela McQuade, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission. 

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FUMBLING THE BALL

“Live [compassionately], friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.”  (Galatians 6:1-3 MSG)                   

Churches that focus on compassion and love, that are rooted in the spiritual dimension, over time enhance their ability to offer creative and life-giving ministries and mission, but churches that focus solely on ministry and mission can lose their souls if they forget to love people involved in them. A major component, then, of spiritual leadership is being a compassionate leader…

There’s a comment made in many churches that I’ve always hated: “So-and-so dropped the ball on that one.” What this means is that a person agreed to do something, but then failed, for whatever reason, to accomplish it. What bothers me about the phrase is that it shows a lack of compassion. The phrase has its origins in football: a player fumbles and “drops the ball,” which messes up the offense. The reality is that in football, people fumble. They don’t fumble intentionally. It’s always a mistake. Sometimes they fumble because they are trying too hard to do too much. Sometimes they fumble because they lose sight of the ball. Sometimes they fumble because they are anxious or afraid. Nobody fumbles on purpose. But on good teams, when players fumble, it is up to the rest of the team either to get the ball back or to prevent the other team from capitalizing on the fumble. Good team leaders tell the rest, “Don’t worry about the fumble. Just focus on what we need to do, and eventually we’ll get another opportunity. And if we fumble again, we all have to get the ball back.”

Compassionate leaders recognize that people don’t fail on purpose. They fail for a variety of reasons, including not knowing how to do something, trying to do too much, losing sight of the goal, or lacking confidence. Good leaders have compassion and let people know that it is OK to make mistakes or fail, that a new opportunity will eventually present itself, and that the person is still valued and important. 

-- N. Graham Standish in “Becoming a Blessed Church: Forming a Church of Spiritual Purpose, Presence, and Power”

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A FRESH START WITH GOD

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  (Psalm 118:24 NKJV)

Monday mornings often bring a long list of responsibilities, challenges, and expectations. It is easy to begin the week focused on what lies ahead and forget the One who goes before us. Yet God's Word reminds us that today is not an accident. It is a gift from the Lord, carefully prepared by His loving hand.

Before rushing into the demands of the day, take a moment to thank God for the opportunity of a new beginning. His mercies are new every morning, and His strength is available for every task you face. You do not have to carry the weight of the week alone. The same God who guided you yesterday is already present in your tomorrow.

As you start this week, choose faith over fear, gratitude over complaint, and trust over worry. Walk confidently, knowing that God is at work in every circumstance and that He will provide the wisdom and strength you need for each day. May the peace of Christ be with you. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

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WHAT’S IN YOUR WARDROBE? – Part 5 of 5

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

PATIENCE

“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”  (Psalm 27:14 NLT)

In our fast-paced world, waiting feels like an interruption. We rush to plan the next season, secure the next outcome, and outrun uncertainty, often operating under the anxious assumption that if we aren’t pushing forward, we are falling behind. Yet, spiritual growth rarely happens in the rush. It happens in the stillness -- when we stop trying to outpace God's calendar and learn to anchor our souls in the present.

To get ahead of God’s timing is to rely on our own strength rather than His wisdom. It is driven by the fear that if we don't force a door open, it will remain closed forever. But the posture of faith invites us to exhale, lay down our timelines, and trust the One who holds eternity.

Henri J.M. Nouwen beautifully captured the transformative power of patient waiting when he wrote: "A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live out the situation to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us... Patient people dare to stay where they are. Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there... nurturing the moment."

Nouwen reminds us that patience is not passive resignation; it is an active, courageous choice. To wait well is to stay fully present in whatever season we find ourselves -- even an uncomfortable or quiet one -- believing that God is working beneath the surface. When we rush ahead, we risk missing the exact lessons, character-building, and quiet blessings He has planted right where we are. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

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