Matt 28: 19, Romans 11: 11, John 5: 24

Carl Belcher

I don't know how you would find this question, but when I was first asked this I had an image of my mits around a knife and fork tucking into a juicy T bone!
I soon found out how wrong I was when I carried on listening to the rather talented training consultant who had come to talk to us that day. She specialised in helping organisations to become 'extraordinary organisations' and for the rest of the day she shared some of the secrets that she had discovered along the way. During her travels she had discovered that extraordinary organisations showed the following characteristics:

- Exciting Shared Goals
- Strong Awareness of stakeholders needs
- Strong Leadership
- Empowerment culture
- Stretching plans & measures
- Accountability
- Efficient management processes
- Effective Communications
- Celebrations
- Learning & unlearning
- Extraordinary People

As I looked at the list and then thought about 'The Church' as an organisation, I started to think "Hmmm.exciting goals, strong leadership, celebrations, hey this could be us!"

The problem is when it comes to having a 'strong awareness of stakeholders needs' as she put it, we often get confused over who the stakeholders are!
Jesus makes it very clear to his disciples with the very last words He shares with them who He thinks the stakeholders are:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matt 28: 19)

Not just a few nations, a few good guys, maybe the ones who've earned it, but ALL nations. Everyone regardless of their understanding, experience or worthiness. This is the very heart of God. It's like God's saying "Hey guys, I've got a party going on and I don't want one single person to miss it".

To many people who heard Jesus' words over 2000 years ago Jesus offered something that had never been made available to them by anyone else before. He offered them complete acceptance with God and not just that, He said that it had nothing to do with their own efforts. This is why the Apostle Paul said "Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! His purpose was to make His salvation available to the Gentiles, and then the Jews would be jealous and want it for themselves".(Romans 11: 11)

That's why so many religious people were (and still are today) offended by what Jesus had to say. Rather than say "Nice one, you've been really religious therefore you are welcome.." He simply said "those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life." (John 5: 24)

That's why Jesus' message was and still is today so radical. While many people want to put hoops in the way for people to jump through to get to God, Jesus does not. No one expected the Son of God to hang out with the prostitutes, shady characters and every other sort of person that had been rejected and written off by society, but that's exactly what He did. His message of freedom, hope and life was and still is tailor made for them today.

If there is one person who has a 'strong awareness of stakeholders needs', it's Jesus.

My prayer today is:

"Lord Jesus please help me to see people as you see them. Give me your heart of compassion for those who desperately need your life and love. Never let me keep this life giving truth to myself, but instead give me the courage to take it to wherever you call me to go."