1 John 3:1-2 English Standard Version
1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Recently these devotionals have focused on what unbelievers need to know in order to come to Christ and to know Him. It may seem as though they have strayed away from the lost only to discover ourselves talking to each other. That is the nature of being born again into a large family.
We discover this family has an order based on maturity, gifts, purpose, and grace. It is difficult to find our place in such a large family. We seek to find out where we fit. Is it a matter of comfort? Is it a matter of seeking security? Is it a matter of discovering how and where we are needed?
Yesterday we spoke about discernment and that it is the perception of the Holy Spirit at work in others. It is this discernment that allows those that have come before us to seek out their replacements. Men and women with service gifts will most readily recognize when new disciples begin to demonstrate the traits of their own gifts.
Development in such a large family requires room to allow others to fit in where their gifts can be developed properly, training provided and a safe place to practice those gifts. Administrative planning should ensure that growth in Christ is not hindered by stagnant growth in churches within their responsibilities.
Some administrations seek to be seed churches, some administrations seek to build mega churches, some administrations seek to share resources in order to control likeminded administrations.