By Edwin F. Jenkins
Interim director of missions Morgan Baptist Association
Searching for the latest and greatest thing in regards to church life tends to require much of our time and energy. Hearing the latest success story of a church in the next state or even in the next county sometimes motivates us to search and to seek to discover how they did it and how we may follow their lead. We must avoid falling into the trap of jumping from one bandwagon to the next.
May I suggest that renewed attention be given to what should be the priority concern for all churches? I have become convinced that the No. 1 concern for every church and every individual is one and the same — practicing the presence of God.
Pursuing and practicing the actual presence of God in all that we are and do deserves to be stated, affirmed and then restated and reaffirmed.
Without the power of God we cannot do God’s work. Without the presence of God there can be no power from God. Based on the teaching of our Lord in the Gospels and the experience of the apostles in the Book of Acts, God’s power is inextricably linked to and dependent on His presence.
While we continue to search for appropriate ways to carry out our missions and ministries let us be sure of this singular truth. Jesus clearly testified, “for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). “For in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Above all else, in all that we do, we must pursue and practice the presence of God.
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