Can You See It Happening Yet?

Can you see it happening yet?

Another story of someone coming closer to Christ as a result of something this church is doing. Another story about how someone far from Christ and his Church experienced practical help and encouragement?  A new person sitting next to you exploring faith because you took a risk, demonstrated some curiosity, and compassionately shared the Good News with them like someone once did for you. 

Can you see it? No? Maybe? That’s OK. The good news is that Jesus meets us where we really are. He accepts us, just as we are. He also loves us enough to not leave us that way too. Sometimes all we have to offer to God in prayer are our doubts and awareness of our shortcomings. That’s OK also. Offer that if that is honestly what describes you when you read the first paragraph above. Offer him all that you are. Sinner. Saint. Full of child-like faith. Filled with doubts. Jesus wants all of us. The beautiful and the broken parts. We never, never, never, need to get ourselves cleaned up before we approach God in prayer. WE absolutely never, never, never, need to come to God and play make-believe. Honesty with the Lord is always best. Some people never expereince God’s presence because they are never honest and real with God when they pray. God truly meets us where we really are. Not where we pretend to be.

When you pray, pray boldly. Pray and ask God to expand your vision of what is possible at West County Lutheran Church. We aren’t here only for ourselves, but for the next person who moves closer to Christ as well. It is never this or that. But both/and. If, in your honest self-assessment, you discover that reaching the lost is far from what you see yourself doing, confess that as well. The Lord will heal you of that if you boldly confess that anti-Christ attitude as the sin that it is. God can heal and restore you from even that. Our future looks very good when we approach God in total honesty and get real with our Lord and Savior. He embraces us every time.

“ . . . If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish..”

~Matthew 18:12-14 ESV