Newsboys

I think I'm starting to become a Newsboys addict. My parents gave me one of their albums, and it's playing as loud as I dare right now. I love their music!

What I enjoy is that not all their songs sound the same - the one playing right now has hints of that old band ELO (Electric Light Orchestra), while others go off on a gospel chior tangent or the unplugged-type way of doing things. (My parents also gave me a Lincoln Brewster CD, but every single song sounds the same, bar the final one!)

And then there are the lyrics. Great, great stuff. I've had two songs stuck in my head for days, playing "it's all of God's children singing glory glory, hallelujah, he reigns!" and "great is your faithfulness, to carry on with a sinner like me" over and over. Speaks volumes.

Their site has a "Word of the day" feature, and yesterday's is super:

January 5th – He Brought them to the Man
- Jim Laffoon

"He brought them to the man to see what he would name them. And what ever the man named each living creature was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field." (Genesis 2:19b-20a)

Adam what should we call these birds? What about this tawny, four footed creature with spots? How about the big hairy one swinging from the branches? If Adam would have realized the privilege being given him, he would have been speechless. Yet, in the innocence and purity of the garden, walking and working with the God of the universe seemed wholly natural.

Although none of us will ever stand with God in the Garden of Eden and name the creatures of the earth, we too have been given an amazing privilege. Even as God brought creatures into the life of Adam to name them, so he brings humans the crown jewel of His creation into our lives to name and even rename them.

That¹s right, through the message of the Gospel we have the power to rename people: from lost to found; sinner to saint; slave to child. Do you see the glorious power and privilege that you and I have been given? Through the good news of the Gospel, people receive more than a new name. They are birthed into a new family and given a new future.

Do you see it now? Whether you realize or not God is bringing people into your life on a regular basis to see if you will rename them. From the random encounter, to the friend that pours out their heart to you, these may well be divine appointments. Yet, this is more than a great privilege, it is also an awesome responsibility. Paul clearly delineates the awesomeness of our responsibility in Romans 10:14c: "And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"

That¹s right, if you do not speak to the people God is bringing to you, how will they ever hear? As you take a moment to ponder this great opportunity, let the words of John 20:21b-22a settle into your spirit: "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them." Can you feel your Master¹s gentle breath? Can you hear his loving voice? He is not only sending people to you; He is sending you.

Real food for thought.