Casting Crowns – Start Right Here (Devotional)

Start Right Here – 2 Chronicle 7:14

IΓÇÖve been in church ministry for half my life, as youth pastor, as a worship leader, and I really hurt in my heart for the things IΓÇÖm not hearing as much. Some of the things I donΓÇÖt hear as much these days are ΓÇ£I really want to start a ministry that pours into children.ΓÇ¥ What IΓÇÖm starting to hear is ΓÇ£I want to find a church that has a good ministry for children.ΓÇ¥ One thing I donΓÇÖt hear very much is ΓÇ£I want to see my church awaken in their worship and IΓÇÖm going to lead out with my worship.ΓÇ¥ What IΓÇÖm hearing instead is ΓÇ£we want to go find a church that has passionate worship.ΓÇ¥ Instead of building church, weΓÇÖre shopping for church.

We donΓÇÖt want to be preached at, we want to be loved and to be told the good news, because it’s a hard and dark world out there that constantly changes.

WeΓÇÖre going to go find the one that meets us right where we want it, that makes us the most comfortable. We donΓÇÖt want to be preached at, we want to be loved and to be told the good news, because it’s a hard and dark world out there. But what IΓÇÖm finding is our churches are getting more and more comfortable for the few that are inside, and less and less appealing to the ones that are outside.

This isnΓÇÖt a song that says that words on the screen in worship are bad and worship bands are bad – I donΓÇÖt think any of that’s bad. I think those things are good. I go to a church that has a worship band and we have our words on the screen, weΓÇÖre online, and there’s so many ways to get us; but the day that that becomes our goal, to create a look and a feel instead of knowing that only the power of God will save people, then weΓÇÖre in trouble.

I feel like as a church weΓÇÖre beginning to try to make ourselves more comfortable instead of walking out where it’s totally uncomfortable – loving a hurting, dark world where they are.

One of the signs that we know weΓÇÖve become comfortable is when we start getting mad at the world for being lost.

Say it out loud to yourself and see if it makes sense – ΓÇ£IΓÇÖm mad at lost people for sinning.ΓÇ¥ It makes no sense, but we find ourselves in our churches, our little worlds and weΓÇÖre tweeting out our hearts cry and telling everyone else what they need to do better. Really all God ever said about the world was ΓÇ£they need me.ΓÇ¥ He had a lot to say about His people.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

God

The world changing is not going to happen in the White House. It is not going to happen if we make the right laws and keeps everybody in line. The world changes when Jesus changes it, and Jesus changes the world through us. WeΓÇÖre it. WeΓÇÖre the hands and the feet, and it’s time for us to step out of our walls and love a world that really needs it, but it’s got to start right here.

Where can you step out of your comfort zone to further the Kingdom of God? Ask the Lord to start with you ΓÇô your heart.