Today, my wife and I have been enjoying watching snow flurries outside of our kitchen window. We live in the southeastern part of the United States, where we do not see a lot of snow, so it is a treat to watch it. Snow flurries start with little white fluffy flakes gently falling. Then, you notice some of it sticking to the ground. Next, you see white patches on the back deck, and finally those patches start merging to create a light blanket of snow.
A few years ago,
I authored an article called FLURE Revival for the website allsoulscount.com.
The premise was that during Jesus’ ministry, He seemed to focus on five key
areas when addressing his followers. Those areas were:
·
Forgiveness
·
Love
·
Unity
·
Repentance
·
Evangelism
You may note that I did not
mention prayer, but that is because prayer is foundational to all of these. I
was looking for the key teachings and examples Jesus imparted to those who
believed in Him.
As
Christians, when we learn to forgive others and to truly seek forgiveness from
others, we can have a significant impact on both non-believers and our fellow
believers. They will see that we are walking the walk, and this will enhance
how others perceive Christian integrity.
When
we strive to live a life of sacrificial love, those we encounter are positively
affected. Loving the way Jesus loved us is an incredible goal. Imagine how many
marriages would be strengthened if couples did this, how many lives would
improve if we served others with love, and how much your life would change if you
took the time to love others as a Christian. Once we push aside our own egos
and put others first, we open a whole new life of enrichment for everyone.
Unity
among the followers of Jesus is something He prayed for the night before his crucifixion.
Yet, the world often sees Christians fighting among themselves. We need to focus
on what is truly important. If you take the gospel down to the main message, that
is where our focus should be. John 3:16 – 17 is where our focus needs to be. God
so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish. For Jesus did not come to the world to condemn the world
but to save it. That is where we should find our unity.
Repentance
should be a key part of our lives. This goes along with seeking forgiveness. We
need to not only seek forgiveness but also turn away from sins in our lives. The
world watches Christians with a critical eye, so we need to live like we
believe in the message.
Evangelism
is the last of the group, but it is vital. The world is filled with people who
are lost and sometimes, that sounds too simple. If we want to be blunt, we will
say the world is full of people who are destined for eternal damnation. If we
believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation, and I do, then we need to try
to reach those who are lost. God sent his Son because all souls truly count. We
are his hands and feet to spread the good news. God has made it amazingly easy
for people to get on track for an eternity of joy and love. Our job is to share
that message with them. God absolutely loves everyone, and He has given Himself
to bring them to safety. So, we need to show the world the same love and share
this blessed news.
Why
did I mention the snow? I see FLURE Revival working in the same manner as the
snow flurries outside my window. At first, it may appear in scattered areas
around the world, but as more Christians start putting these five areas into
practice, it will begin to spread. Can you imagine the impact we, as Christians,
could have on the world? A united group going out to the world in love, living lives
that honor the Lord, and sharing the gospel of hope and love.
I
pray that my life serves our great and wonderful Father in a way that brings Him
joy. This year, my New Year’s resolution is to do more to serve him. That is my
hope for all of you.
May you all be blessed, Layman Ray
