Some Thursday Thoughts:
In the New Testament, the church was a city, it wasn’t a building or a denomination but a city. It was a kingdom operating completely differently within a kingdom that was ruled by power and the spirit of this age. This “other” city (within a city) looked completely different and operated differently by knowing its neighbors, sharing all things, giving to those in need, breaking bread together in the streets, encouraging one another with joy in the face of persecution and was a light of difference in the middle of dark times.
I was recently at a meeting where we were asked, “What does Baltimore need?”
My answer: we need a move of the Holy Spirit that first, convicts the Church of Baltimore of its sin of selfishness, silo-ing, and coming in under the spirit of the worldly kingdom. The second, we need a city on the hill that cannot be hidden. A Church that operates as a city not its own, individual entity. I long to see the Church of Baltimore become the type of church that operates in such a way that life, light and the promises of God are operating through the flow of His Church. I long to see Revelation 22 become a prophecy fulfilled on the streets of this city.
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
Revelation 22:1-5
I do love this city and I love the bride of Christ. My heart has hurt for a long time at the state of both. But this I know to be true, I know it’s not the end of the story, for I serve an amazing Jesus who took what was broken and resurrected it. I want to be about my Father’s business too.
