Terror.
Abuse.
Depression.
Poverty.
Hate.

We can be left feeling limited – there’s only so much I can do.
Liable – I should have done more.
Lost – where can I start?
Lonely – who’s caring for me?

It may not always be orderly or neat, but people line up for the boxing day sales,
they queue outside Aldi before the weekly “Special Buys” go on sale,
there’s even the few faithful still crowding around apple stores when a new iPhone is released.

Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash

We’ll go out of our way for the things we value. We’ll seek them out,
wait for them,
push through the crowd.

When was the last time you did that to be close to Jesus?

In Luke’s gospel we read about people “crowding around Jesus and listening to the word of God.” [Luke 5:1]
They wanted to hear him.
They had the hunger, the desire, the passion.

It’s easy to get comfortable, to think you’re fine just as you are.
It’s easy to get complacent, to think what you’ve done in the past is enough.

If you’ve never sought Jesus,
if it’s been a while,
then now is the time to press in,
crowd round.

You'll find what you're looking for.

Recently Melbourne lost the title of “world’s most liveable city.”
After 7 years at the top, it fell… to second place.
But for a city that ranks so highly, we find it easy to pick its faults (transport, cost of living, safety, etc.).

It’s loud and busy and…
that’s why I think God loves it.
Our city is full of people.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Jesus promises to Paul in Acts 18, that Jesus has many people in the city of Corinth [Acts 18:10].
It's a call to love the city, to love it's people.

Having grown up in Northern Sydney and now living in South-East Melbourne - we love the different cities, different communities, different people. As we explore the city laneways, open highways and leafy pathways - God is opening our eyes to his city.

As you look around your city, what stirs your soul?
What needs do you see and what areas of growth are you excited by?
Who do you see and what would it look like if they were transformed by the gospel?

We might not openly and intentionally think this way, but subconsciously, I wonder whether we’ve settled for aiming low. We’ve let our culture write the story, direct the narrative and set out what is normal.

Calling yourself a Christian rewrites that script.
To believe we can be saved by grace is to believe in the impossible.
To believe we can have life in Jesus is to believe in miracles.
To believe that we as a church can have impact in this community is to believe in the supernatural.

In Acts chapter 20 Paul makes the remarkable statement,
“I consider my life worth nothing to me.”

That’s a bold claim, does he mean it?
Is his life worth nothing?

Paul doesn’t think he’s worthless,
He knows his value but he’s not holding on to it.
He’s willing to give it up, give it away for the sake of something even more valuable.

There’s no aiming low there;
similarly, nothing half-hearted or fake.

Photo by Jeremy Perkins on Unsplash

Paul is aiming high and I am too, because
what I see in Jesus is far and beyond what I see in me.
However, the reverse is also true…
what Jesus sees in me is far and beyond what I see in myself.

As a result, each one of us can be courageous and aim high.
We can live with confidence, boldness and faith.