By Toni Birdsong
It feels good to be with friends. We feel loved around people who affirm and encourage us. And, we feel safe—even empowered—when we strike the sweet, unmistakable note of common ground. For Christians, fellowship in the body of Christ can be one of the purest, most powerful forces we experience here on earth.
But what happens when we spend all of our time with people just like us when we log online? Blinders form. Exclusion creeps in. Well-worn digital paths emerge. Soon, we become blind to the brokeness and deaf to the need that pulsates around us.
As believers, we have three callings while we walk the earth:
- To know God and enjoy His presence personally. Deut. 4:29-31
- To worship God and grow within a body of believers. Phil. 2:1-4
- To share God’s Truth and love with the people who still don’t know Him. Acts 1:8
It’s impossible to fulfill God’s plan and take enemy territory if we only interact online with people just who are just like us. When God’s Kingdom thrives within you, you are officially called (and equipped) to engage the kingdoms of this world and absolutely nothing can stop you from gaining ground for His glory—nothing except you.
In Luke 4:18 (The Message), Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah.
God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s year to act!”
Let’s go deeper:
Who’s Spirit is on you? The Lord’s.
Whom has He chosen? You.
To whom do we preach? The poor.
What do we preach? Salvation—good news!
To whom do we announce pardon? The prisoner.
To whom do we proclaim healing? The blind.
To whom do we broadcast freedom? The burdened and battered.
And exactly where do you find these oppressed people? One step—or click—outside of your holy huddle.
This doesn’t mean you start flying solo—it’s in the huddle you get powered up and prayed up to win! What it does mean is it’s time to bust out of your comfort zone and allow God to use you in ways that will challenge you, change you, and show you that the best way to get amazing fruit . . . is to abandon what’s comfortable and go out on a limb.
Here’s a challenge for you:
- Pray. Ask God to bring a fresh face to your mind.
- Reach out to that person online.
- Listen to what’s going on in his/her life.
- Pray. Love. Repeat.
Are you living in your comfort zone online? What keeps you from reaching out to others? Let’s talk!
Post/Tweet this today:
It’s impossible to take enemy territory if we only interact online with people just who are just like us. #LiveSticky
Related Articles:
50 promises God gives you as step into the digital world today
Avoiding Christianese: how to connect to non-believers online
35 creative & fun ways to share your faith online
If you like this blog, you’ll love the book, @stickyJesus: how to live out your faith online. Get it TODAY. Your time online will never be the same.
Tags: body of Christ, Courage, digital outreach, evangelism, prayer, share your faith
