Potential

Potential is a funny thing. By its very nature potential is something elusive and mysterious. I can't tell you how many times in my early years in education I heard, "You have so much potential." I'm not sure that I had any clue what that meant back then. I think I have a better idea not what that was all about. The next few thoughts are my ideas concerning potential as it pertains to you and me as well as the church.

What I have come to understand about potential is very simple, yet very profound. Potential is that inate quality within into which you and I were created to live. The funny thing about potential is that most of the time we cannot see our full potential. The people who know us and love us usually can see the potential within us long before we can. Moms and dads see our potential perhaps better than anyone in the world. They see what we could be and believe in what we should be. They work to build that vision within us so that we can catch glimpses of that elusive potential.

As a believer, husband, father, and pastor I know it is difficult at times to see the potential in us. The beautiful thing about our faith is that we have the promise of not having to see this potential through our own eyes. Just as a parent sees the potential in their children, so God the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all that is and ever will be sees the potential in you and me. God sees the potential in each of us because God created us. God redeemed us so that we can live for God is a powerful transformative relationship. This potential is very difficult for us to see and even understand. This is the reason that Jesus said God would send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides, directs, and empowers us toward our full potential. We do not have to see or even understand our created potential. God knows our potential and the Holy Spirit takes us there. So what is our role? Our only role is to abide in Jesus and remain faithful to our relationship with Him.

So here is the point of my writing. I believe that just as this pertains to individual believers this also pertains to the church. Each church has redemptive potential. Every church has a potential to redeem the individuals in its care and the communities in which they serve. So if this is true... it is the responsibility of the church the work as faithfully as possible to reach this full redemptive potential. As each church is diligent to seek its purpose within the context they serve they will work toward reaching their full redemptive potential. Of course, the leadership of each church needs to seek to be faithful to listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit and then faithfully follow.

Potential is a funny thing. Some would say we can never reach our full potential in Jesus Christ in this world. I would say that is right; if we try and accomplish this in our own power. However, if we strive to abide in our relationship with Jesus Christ and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in all that we do it can happen. God designed us to reach our full potential in Jesus Christ. God also designed the perfect system to accomplish this. We need to believe that God would not create a potential that we could not live into. This applies to individuals as well as the church. So believe, stand firm in your faith, and believe that through the power of the Holy Spirit you can live into your full potential in Jesus Christ. May this be our one holy passion.