It is easy to get discouraged and even be depressed when we are unaware of God’s activity in our world. Can we see what God is doing in and through the lives of people of faith? Sharing how God is moving in our life and in this world today can be immensely valuable to everyone.
When we share our personal experience and insights, we and others can see more clearly how and where God is actively moving. We can also see that God’s promise of a better life is not just for a future someday. So, where is God moving today?
God “At Work”
The people God works in and through rarely start or finish life as ideal people without faults. In this temporal life, people of faith continue to be imperfect. While we live in this natural world with its productive and destructive processes, our need for God’s grace and mercy never cease.
Consider the miracles God has accomplished through imperfect lives. Moses was very unsure of himself yet God used him to deliver multitudes from slavery. (a) [see endnotes for Scriptures] Samson was a womanizer yet God used him to repel the Philistine overlords. (b) God even called the heathen king of Babylon, “My servant.” (c) The list of imperfect vessels God has used is endless.
Each of those identified in the biblical list of “heroes of faith” (d) were full of failures and short-comings. God uses unsuitable people when they are willing to follow His inspirational lead. This is great news for us, considering we are all imperfect people.
However, if we stay focused on each other’s imperfections, we can miss what God is doing. To see God’s activity, we must be open to understanding more clearly from His perspective.
While God’s love is echoed in many ways through most books of the Bible, the Psalms of David declare at least 24 times that “God’s loving kindness is everlasting.” As our heavenly Father, God’s eternal love and care for all of His kids never ceases because it is unending.
We want to constantly give ourselves to “working out” into our everyday life everything that “God, who is at work in you” is seeking to accomplish. (e) Do not forget, God is not limited or restricted by time and space, nor is He hindered by our shortcomings and imperfections. (f)
We do not want to allow our flaws to impede our view and faithful response to what God desires to do in and through us. When we allow God to guide our activity, great things tend to happen. The present evil can be opposed and overcome.
Our shortcomings do not impede what God desires to do in and with us.
Sharing What God Is Doing
God planted in the midst of the Garden of Eden the “Tree of Life” and the “Tree of knowledge of good and evil,” as sources of wisdom. (g) The wisdom we receive from God’s life-giving word produces an “abundant life” (h) while the wisdom we receive from natural experience brings a mix of good and evil (productive and destructive) results.
We want to understand that during this life no one is fully fleshly or heavenly minded. We all bounce between carnal and spiritual perceptions. (i) Since we are designed to begin our life in this natural earth, a degree of carnal thinking is appropriate. We can learn much from natural reason.
When Adam and Eve dismissed God’s guidance, their relationship with Him suffered a death-like deterioration. (j) When the first people of faith were delivered from slavery, they asked for a mediator so God’s interaction would not be personal. (k) A few centuries later they asked for a king to rule. (l) They kept complicating the enabling presence of God from being very effective.
Too often we are cautioned to not talk 
about religion or politics because they usually turn into arguments. Jesus reminded us that we experience the presence of God-in-Christ when we discuss His purposes in our lives and His activity among us. (m) Instead of arguing over differences, we should share what God is doing in our life and discuss His redeeming activity in our world.
Jesus declared: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name (interacting), there I am in their midst.” [n] As we share our thoughts about what God is doing, He promises to be in our midst, with us, and among us. God can be a very enlightening, anointing, and influencing presence in the midst of our conversations!
Scripture declares “The mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations… which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (o) The word “you” is used in the sense of a plurality, addressing the Colossians as an interacting people. Our hope of glory (visibility) is not because Christ is in me or you as individuals; it is in “our” encouraging interactions about what God is doing among us. Our willingness to interact allows God to work not only in us but through us. (p)
We are all flawed people, even the instruments that God uses; me, you, those in ministry, and elected officials. We don’t want to miss out on what God is saying and doing by dismissing His imperfect vessels. When we share what God is doing in our world, others can be encouraged.
When we share what God is doing in our world, others can be encouraged.
God Is With Us
When the presence of Jesus ascended out of earthly sight and appeared to go away, Jesus verified his promise to never leave or forsake responders (q) by quickly returning to baptize (immerse) followers in God’s Spirit. (r) As people realized God-in-Christ Jesus was now in their midst, the words and presence of Jesus, as the presence of God, became a life improving force.
Following the natural life of Jesus, people began to interact and respond to God without the need of sacred places, sacrifice, or rituals. Worship ceased to focus on a location or specific actions. Their life became a form of worship. Gatherings were in homes and involved open participation.
Each shared what they could as encouragements. (s) Their interaction about God’s activity flowed freely. People openly shared what they sensed God was saying and doing. During the first 30 years, believers were reported to be influencing everyone’s perception of God. (t) Writings for 300 years (for 4 generations) that followed Jesus reported a common phrase: “God is with us!”
Jesus said God’s Kingdom reign is experienced by people who are being fruitful. (u) The reign of Jesus includes our personal involvement. Seeing and hearing what God is saying and doing is of little value if we are not personally involved, like “faith without works is dead,” fruitless. (v) Our Christ-like interactions can have a positive effect on our families, fellowships, states and nations.
Yes, God is our Eternal Father, (w) personal Lord, (x) and our reigning King. (y) As God’s unique example, Jesus became the real mediator between us and God. (z) For over 2000 years now, Jesus represents the anointing presence of God that tends to dwell in the midst of our interactions.
Everyone, especially people of faith (aa) have a responsibility to hear and be responsive to what God is saying and desiring to accomplish, not only in us but through our interactions.
It is in our discussions that we are “the temple of God,” (bb) “the light of the world, a city on a Hill,” (cc) “a light to nations.” (dd) Together, we are God’s dwelling place. (ee) His guidance provides an amazing freedom to live and prosper as people of faith and as gathered nations. This is where God is moving in our day.
Let’s not ignore God’s personal guidance as Adam did in the Garden and as the old nation of Israel often did. God-in-Christ Jesus is truly in our midst as an empowering presence. As we respond to His guidance, we begin to see from His perspective and are able to excel as people of faith. This enables everyone to become better participants in God’s Kingdom reign, today.
As we respond to God’s guidance, we begin to see from His perspective and are able to excel as people of faith.
a) Exodus 4:10; b) Judges 14-16; c) Jeremiah 27:6; d) Hebrews 11:1-40; e) Philippians 2:12-13; f) Romans 3:3-4; 9:20-21; g) Genesis 2:9; 3:6; h) John 10:10; 6:63; i) I John 4:6; j) Genesis 2:17; k) Deuteronomy 5:1-4; 22-27; l) 1 Samuel 10:18-19; m) Romans 14:7; Luke 17:20-21; Mark 1:15; n) Matthew 18:20; o) Colossians 1:26-27; p) Luke 24:13-16; q) Hebrews 13:5-6; Mathew 28:20; r) Mark 1:8; Acts 1:5; s) Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Corinthians 14:26; t) Acts 17:6; u) Matthew 21:43; v) James 2:20-26; w) Matthew 23:9; x) Isaiah 43:11; y) I Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 6:14-16; z) 1Timothy 2:5; aa) 1 Timothy 4:10; bb) 1 Corinthians 3:16; cc) Matthew 5:14; dd) Acts 13:47; ee) 2 Corinthians 6:16; Revelations 12:3; 21:3; John 14:1-3
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
Created To Relate author