Angry Session 3 devo
Angry Devotional: Session 2: Ready to Rumble
The Bigger Movement
By Josh Steffens
(Read Luke 4:18-19, 10:17-20)
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (
Jesus is always watching out for the less fortunate. The disadvantaged. The hopeless. This was Jesus' purpose: To be anointed and sent to help the poor, the blind, the prisoners and oppressed. We are Christians which means we are "followers" of Christ. If we are following Him then we are anointed and sent to do the same things he did. To follow after and pursue the same injustices he did. To preach and proclaim God's favor just as he did.
Christianity has become very me focused. How can I get blessing from God? How can God make me better? More comfortable? Safer? Christianity has become so focused on our own salvation. This is my ticket to heaven and that's all I have to worry about. Don't get me wrong, I do believe your own salvation is important and something to rejoice in. I'll prove it.
“Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20 NKJV)
I love that Jesus' men returned all stoked because they had power in the name of Jesus. The demons had to listen to them. They could perform healings and miracles. They are all amped up and Jesus tells them to NOT rejoice in that, but rejoice in the fat that you are saved and your names are written in Heaven. So yes, there is a high importance on personal salvation, but I believe that is where Christianity ends for most people.
There must be more than this. We are part of a bigger movement and the gospel challenges us to act. If we don't act, then who will? If we don't care for the "least of these", then who will? We will preach to and feed the poor (which is why we help feed the homeless with Hope for a Future). We will deliver the prisoners (which is why we partner with Love 146). We will restore the oppressed (WHich is why we partner with Zao water and Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee). We will stand in the shoes of Christ and walk where he walked. This is the direction Turning Point is going. Be ready to partner with God in doing things much greater than ourselves.
