Holy Spirit: Power to change the world

Chapter 2: God’s mission

So what’s going to happen? God has a plan.

God would not leave the people he loves to suffer and to be oppressed and harassed by evil. God would give these people an inheritance, a promised land, a place that he could be present again with humans. This was the plan that God had put together for his people. This is the mission for God to dwell with the people he loves.

God’s mission:

• To reconcile humanity.
• To restore relationship.
• To remove pain and suffering.

God calls Abram. He calls a man to start a journey with God. God will bless Abram and Abram will be a blessing to others. All people on earth will be blessed through him. Gen 12:1-3 reads:

The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you.
"I will make you into a great nation, 

and I will bless you; 

I will make your name great, 

and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, 

and whoever curses you I will curse; 

and all peoples on earth 

will be blessed through you."

God spoke to Abraham. He made a promise that he would be with him and would bless him. Why? To be a blessing to all people. My understanding of 'blessing' is to support and encourage someone, to stand behind them and to stand up for them. I would argue that the difference between blessing and cursing is the difference between sailing with the wind behind you or sailing against the wind. Believers in God should reflect his love to fellow humans. God initiates a journey with a human, a conversation and dialogue begins. There is a plan and a purpose and a promise.

From Abraham comes Isaac, and then Jacob who becomes Israel. And then comes Joseph who ends up in Egypt, the superpower of his day.

I wonder, what have you been called to do?