Have you ever noticed that significant movements start when someone asks a “What if?” question?
Think about it.
Martin Luther asked: What if we could put the Bible in the hands of common people? John Wesley asked: What if we could create a system of discipleship that reproduced itself? Martin Luther King, Jr. asked: What if we actually did treat everyone equal? Blake Mycoskie, of TOMS Shoes, asked: What if we create a company that gave a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair of shoes we sold? The Israelites asked: What if we actually can live in the Promise Land? The disciples asked: What if Jesus meant all that he said?
The “What if?” question is incredibly powerful because it draws us further into the realm of faith and expectancy, and it recognizes there is still more to come. The impact and life change of the past year is significant, but I realize there is still more to come. Even Paul referenced this when he wrote, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” [1 Corinthians 2:9]
As followers of Jesus, we are already part of the greatest movement in all of human history; and this past church year(May 2014 – April 2015), we were once again privileged to see God work in and through us. I praise Him for His faithfulness, and I thank you for your part in it. So, as we step into this new church year, I wonder which “What if?” questions we need to be asking.
What if…
- we could lead our neighbor to Jesus?
- everyone in the QCA fell in love with Jesus?
- people were added to our church daily?
- we were radically generous in our giving?
- we lived knowing our resources were His not ours?
- our communities were different because our church was there?
- local leaders & businesses knew we were different?
- we sought to give more than we take?
- we were not about ego but just Kingdom impact?
- we helped other churches succeed?
- what happened in the Bible could happen here?
- we actually took our next bold move?
As you reflect on the past year and dream of the next, I ask you to join me in thanking God for what He has done; and then I ask you to join me in praying that He would do even more in the coming year.
As God’s people, we lack nothing. We have all we need in Him. Yet, there is still more to do, more to see, more to reach and more opportunities to bring Him glory, and I look forward to seeing what He will do in this next season as we increasingly and boldly live loved, linked and SENT in the Quad Cities and beyond.
What if…?
