2 Corinthians 11:3 NASB, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”

At the end of 2020 the Lord really used this verse to convict me in leading His church forward. We were coming off the brink of Covid shutdowns, fear, confusions, frustrations, political mayhem, and so forth. It seemed that if you made any type of leadership decision someone was going to disagree with you and even bash you before others. It was as if many were scared to even make decisions because of the backlash of what others were going to think.

Then one morning during my God time I read 2 Corinthians 11:3. 

So many thoughts ran through my mind. Are we as a church truly devoted to Christ? His Word? His Commandment and Commission? Had I been deceived? Had the church been deceived? Did busyness have such a grip on us that once it was gone people just quit church? How do we move forward? Was Jesus truly at the center of it all? Will people ever come back? How do we get them back? How do we get people involved? The questions never ended! 

One thing I knew the Lord had convicted me of is that we couldn’t go back to the way things had been for the sake of the way things had been. It seemed to me we had been running a programmed rat race and herding cats, just to get as many people in church as we could, for the sake of numbers! There was very little simplicity or sincerity in what we’re doing. It appeared that we were a church of burdening “doers” and not blessing “be’ers”. It seemed we were so lead astray that we had complicated the gospel and the work of the Church by do’s, dont’s, performance, and information; instead of SEEING people the way Jesus did, STOPPING, and SPENDING TIME with them (Compassionately fulfilling the Great Commandment and Commission)

So, two things the Lord led me to lead and preach through beginning in 2021 and every year since, to be intentional in our Vision and Mission; that it would be more than words, but the devoted action of our belief and the pure attitude of our heart. 

1. Simplicity = I was convicted to lead a Simple Church model. I was and still am convinced that we need to slow down, be intentional, no back and forth – running aimlessly, burdening people to ‘do’ ministry or to be at church multiple times for different reasons. I know we need Be Still and ‘BE’. Be consistent in the Scriptures. Be in His presence. Be intentional. And, encourage others to do the same. Be Still and KNOW that He is God. Then from that pure heart, simply obey the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. 

2. Purity = I was convicted to lead from the perspective of a 7 day a week church instead of a 1 day a week church. In other words I knew church could no longer be just about Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights [4 walls] for a few hours of checklist and feel good time, but I had to lead to where “HE was our life” (Colossians 3:4)[daily relationship] and we were purely devoted to Him through His WORD, together and in unity. How could I lead to where His WORD would guide and change us daily and not just from a pulpit to a pew; but from your living room, dining room table, car, office cubical, school room, etc? 

A lot has changed since the beginning of 2021. Some may agree with the changes and others may not. But, don’t worry, change is coming again as long as the Lord keeps convicting us as He grows us. 

So, today it hits me again: Are we devoted? Have I been deceived? Are we keeping the main thing the main thing? Are we busying ourselves for the sake of doing? Have we created a culture of “being”? Is there a sincere and pure unity to fulfill His vision and mission? Am I living a life of an up-close daily relationship with King Jesus? Do we together embrace Seeing – Stopping – Spending Time With others? or Am I stuck living a checklist life? Are we making disciples? or Are we just recycling? 

I’m convicted again today that my primary purpose is Jesus and to live a simple and pure devoted life before Him. But, as a church, it takes all of us, together. 

How about you? Are you devoted to or have you been deceived from what matters most? Are you “doing” or “being”? Let’s surrender our hearts and minds to King Jesus, anew, and discipline ourselves to slow down and get up-close to Him, allowing Him to create a simple and pure devotion to His Great Commandment and Commission.

Bro J