Day 34 - This Is Our Time

Read Acts 26:12-29

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27) A body needs a reason to move. If it has no reason to move it will lose its energy and capacity to be put in places of exertion. When all of the body is healthy –working together for its goal – it is strong and is able to achieve the life it was meant to live. The body is more than just a nice group of people who get along – it is the body of Christ.

Christ did some pretty amazing things while he was on this earth.  His Spirit is still here and he has chosen you and me to do his work.  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

In light of what God has called this community to do, we need every member of this body, who calls this place home, to move into the area where they have been best designed by God to serve. There is just too much at stake to sit and not serve. We are serious about this mission. We believe this is the most important mission on the planet. We link people with the Heavenly Father through Jesus who we believe can transform lives and the world. 

This mission defines who we are as we are led by the Holy Spirit into the lives of others.

Somewhere in Guelph a family is ready to throw the towel in. A husband and wife are going to sit down at the table with a business card from a divorce attorney and they are going to ask, “What are we going to do?”  And maybe, just maybe, they have a friend who goes to Grace who asks them to come to church. The      husband is hard and antagonistic to the idea but by a miracle he agrees, just this one time.  This member knows she has just one shot at this and all week long she prays, “Let this Sunday be perfect.”  

She prays “God help them find a parking spot because they are late to everything. He really doesn’t want to come.  When their children come to Compass, may they have the time of their life.  I pray that they see their boys faces light up after because they love hanging out in the youth room. Also, when they come into the coffee room, please let someone shake their hand and make them feel welcome. When they come into the gym, please may there be a place at the back where they can sit because it will be so intimidating for them to have to walk down to the front and feel like there are all these eyes looking at them.  Let the music minister to their hearts and let the message be understandable and relevant to their lives.   May our people be filled with smiles and not glares and gestures like they are used to fighting every day. Let this place be different.”

And what she is praying is, “Will you partner with me in the redemption of my friends because I believe that Jesus is their only hope.