Jump in with Purpose
I went for a walk recently with my good friend Rachel and our kids. It was after a heavy down pour of good old Manchester rain! Josie and Daniel were suitably armed with wellies and believe me they made the most of each and every puddle we walked past. It didn’t matter to them if the puddle was pathetically small or a lot deeper than anticipated.
They jumped in each one with the same purpose and determination to make the biggest splash that got them and everyone else as wet as possible. In the evening I was laughing to myself remembering the looks of glee on their little faces. God spoke to me and said this is what He wants from His church.
He wants us to treat every opportunity and task we face with the same determination to make a splash. Change the way you view your life. Each day is filled with God given opportunities to see lives changed. Jump into the life that you have been given, determined to make a splash and an impact, and watch as people get wet all around you.
When Josie and Daniel were jumping into the puddles, whoever was stood close by got soaked as well (usually me and Rachel and the occasional unsuspecting stranger!) God’s goodness, love, mercy and abounding grace don’t exist to keep us cosy. They are supposed to spill out and overflow to reach those who don’t yet know him all around us.
Those puddles were irresistible to our 3 year olds! God wants our daily lives as diverse as they are to be irresistible to us. These puddles can be seen to represent the overflow of His Holy Spirit and the splashes are seen as blessing, healing, words of knowledge, encouragement and love for those that we meet every day. The list could go on. As we actually tune in to this we will see the harvest.
‘Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord’ (Colossians 3:23). I don’t believe that God intends us to work with stern faces. We should be bringing life and joy to our work situations. Before we left the house with the kids we prepared wellies, waterproof coats etc. so that the puddles could be enjoyed to the full with no holding back. If we begin each day with an ‘attitude of gratitude’ (as Roger Aubrey would say) laying down ourselves and ready to receive and flow in the Holy Spirit, then we will be prepared to do whatever He prompts us to.
Jane Barrow
