Why ARE WE Here?

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

As I travel around the state encouraging the “Church” to join in developing opportunities for healing and hope for those dealing with substance use disorder, I am frequently honored and blessed to share a little talk I call “Why Are We Here”

The talk is designed to remind and encourage the CHURCH to find their voice, exercise their creativity and gifting, and to link arms to help push back against the ever-advancing drug epidemic.

But last week in church, our PASTOR took a minute to remind us “Why WE ARE here”. 

Note the changing in emphasis. 

With my talk I am trying to reassure or perhaps educate folks as to why they, as a Christ follower, would have role in the current drug challenge.  Yet my Pastor took Sunday to better answer that age old question, “Why ARE WE here?”

And wisely he turned to scripture and Jesus to answer that question that has burned in the minds of all of us a time or two.

“Let me tell you why you are here.

You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG)

Peterson does a great job of simplifying a complicated question, doesn’t he?

Just WHY ARE WE here?  

To bring out “GOD-FLAVORS and GOD COLORS” as Peterson paraphrases.

I like that.

With our actions, our words, and our expressions of love and compassion folks can “taste and see” that the LORD is good. - Psalm 34:8

I think that presents a pretty good blueprint for today or at least a little direction.

Share GODLINESS with those you encounter so that they can “taste” of the Lord’s goodness.

Be GENEROUS with your “LIGHT”.  Let folks SEE that the LORD is good! Allow the expressions of “GOD’S COLORING” on your life be seen and experienced. 

Don’t hide it! Don’t be stingy with it!

We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine. - Moody

Friends, in a nutshell that is WHY we ARE here!

So be FLAVORFUL today.  Be GENEROUS and “lit” today!

And at the end of the day you will know exactly WHY you were here!

Have a blessed day!

I love you all!

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE