Thoughts

• Day Number 50. We have been going through 50 Days of Purpose. The purpose of the church is to make disciples who lead people to Jesus, learn God’s word, love God’s people, and live for God’s glory. We who follow Jesus should be engaged in each of these activities. Doing so can be transformative in our lives, because of the power of the resurrection.
• Jesus died for our sins, was buried, rose again, and appeared to hundreds. Their lives were not the same after that. They did not become perfect or stop making mistakes, but they were changed, transformed by the renewing of their minds. Jesus indicates in John 16:7 that “it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” When Jesus ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit filled the disciples on the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were empowered to make an impact, eventually on the whole known world. We too can be changed and used by God as we focus on Jesus and are controlled by the Holy Spirit. As we behold Jesus, we become more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18) and become His ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:17-21).