Beginnings

By: Walt Seale

Isaiah 55:6

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

At Christians in Commerce we believe that each of us can make a difference in this world. Our vision statement, "Expanding the kingdom of God by being Christ in the workplace" suggests that the kingdom can be expanded and that we have a role to play in making it happen. Where do we begin? What's our motivation to get started?

A firm foundation must be in place to support a structure and for us, that foundation is prayer. Unless we prayerfully reflect on all the Lord has done in our lives, we will be unable to share his love with others. Prayer builds our relationship with the Lord. It is impossible to love someone you do not know, and it's very difficult to know someone if you don't spend time together and make a sincere effort to grow closer. Through prayer we come to know and love the Lord. Prayer should form a bond of kinship between him and us. This bond of kinship strengthens us for living the life of Christ in our world.

Knowing and loving the Lord is the first step toward joining him in his work. In Luke 24 the risen Jesus says we are to testify to the nations that through him the whole world has access to repentance and forgiveness. Prayer helps us to understand that our Father's plan to save the world includes us.

When we accept the role our Father has designed for us to play in the story of salvation, we are motivated to act in his name. If we have never done so, accepting our role in his plan will change many things in our lives.

Fortunately, the life of Christ grows up in us like a plant. Our Father is patient and he nurtures our growth as we cooperate with his Spirit. Unless we begin by accepting our role in his plan, we won't be able to grow into it.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: Knowledge of the Lord is the gateway to love. Am I taking the time to get to know the Lord in prayer?