Scripture
Colossians 1: 28-29 “So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. I work very hard at this, as I depend on Christ mighty power that works within me.”
Observation
1) Paul’s goal was to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.
That means my goal as a pastor is to present the people of First A/G perfect, whole, complete in their relationship with Jesus. That is the end product. That is whole person discipleship. They serve God with their hearts, heads, hands, and feet.
2) Paul’s means was he worked very hard, as he depended upon the power of Jesus that worked within him.
Pastoring is hard work. It took time, love, sweat, tears, heart ache, etc. Paul gave his people his all.
It also takes the supernatural. There is only so much we can do. We work as hard as we can and then we have to depend upon God. We do all that we can to help someone turn their life around but then we look to God to do the rest.
Only God can truly change a life.
Application
I must commit to working hard in discipleship. I labor. It is work.
I also cannot take responsibility for others. Only God can change a life. Only God can make someone whole. I work and trust. It is not either/or it is both.
Prayer
I ask that each person who attends First A/G will be perfect in you. I ask that they commit their lives to you and turn from sin. I ask that they love you with their hearts, head, hands, and feet.
