Ju
st had an interesting staff meeting where we were discussing our need to be sucessful and how that need was played out in our ministries.
We talked about building projects stemming from the need to appear sucessful, and then about how we all feel inadequate in areas of finance and buisness and yet we feel that we should be able to do everything... also about the sense that we have a need to produce something a legacy if you like to show that we have been here... that we have made an impact!
I am challenged to ponder what Jesus left behind. He left no building, no institution of anything accept what has become known as The Lords Supper, he left no hierarchy....
He left 11 men who had followed him for 3 years, misunderstood and misinterpreted him frequently, he left numerous other followers women and men whose lives he had touched and they found themselves challenged or changed in some way.... he left a call to a new way of living that echoed in their hearts and he left the instruction to pray and to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit...
He left nothing that we can point to to say see how sucessful that is...dying a criminals death all seemed lost...
From this the early church sprang forth, a group very different individuals brought together by their shared love of Christ, by the words of his teachings burning in their hearts and minds setting their souls ablaze...
The early church was not an institution but rather a community called out, imperfect people trying to follow ...imperfect people living in the power of the Spirit and experiencing renewal and rejuvenation in themselves as they encouraged and spurred on one anothers in faith and deeds. There were disagreements, there were problems...
We are their legacy...we are Christs legacy...
How then shall we live? (a question asked by the Northumbria Community)
