Focus on the Few

Submitted by Stephen Trainer

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10

Jesus' ministry seemed pretty small. He spent more time with the few than the many. At the end of His life He actually seemed like a failure. However, that wasn't the whole story. Something big was about to happen!

Look for big changes, not big numbers. Focus on the few. Make disciples. Consider Peter, one of the first disciples. Peter is an example of faith, one who learned to see differently. Something began changing in him when he saw Jesus rightly as the Son of God. But this change took time.

When looking for change, don't expect it to happen quickly. It's been said, "If you want to see things change, stick around a good long while." Even Jesus' plan to turn the world upside down is already 2,000 years in the making.

Stop leading and start following. You don't need to build the church, Jesus does. That's what he told Peter. Jesus taught that God grows faith, Jesus builds the church, and what they build together, not even hell can conquer (Matthew 16:18-19).

So relax, it's not about you. Forget results, think small, get off the cutting edge.

Be encouraged...often weakness is the envelope for God's power.

Jesus’ death, resurrection, and return to heaven secured the victory for the church. Although He is no longer physically present in the world, He is present through His church--people of faith who repent, believe, and obey. We need each other, and the world needs us together. Don't go at it alone.  It's about the kingdom, not the castles we build. In other words, it's not only about your church.

One day God will fully transform the global community. Jesus' example will be applied across all creation. He will establish His kingdom. Until then Jesus taught we can live in His kingdom now. He told us to pray for it: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Lord, teach me to understand that You alone build Your church. I pray that I would follow You instead of worrying about my own world. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.