Matthew 28:18-20, Psalm 119: 41-48

Dan & Claire Maudhub

'Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.' Matthew 28: 18-20

Just before Christmas, David Cameron made a speech commemorating the 400th year of the King James Version of the Bible. Although he professes to be a 'vaguely practising Christian', he said that we should not be ashamed to be a Christian nation. He states that, 'The Bible is a book that has not just shaped our country, but shaped the world in every area, from our language, our music, the arts and other areas of culture. It has also shaped our politics from human rights and equality to our constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy (and) the foundation for equality and human rights'.

This is a powerful and true statement made by our Prime Minister. It is a declaration of the power, relevance and reverence of God's word and something that should resonate with every Christian across the country. God's word applied in our lives, bearing lasting fruit is what will continue to transform our nation and every area of society. God has given us a mandate to be sown as sons (male and female) into society as we mature through the working of His word in our lives.

Sometimes we can feel intimidated and become defensive or private about the mandate that God has given us to affect change in our country. But David Cameron encourages the church to stand up and share the truth, 'The alternative of moral neutrality should not be an option. You can't fight something with nothing'.

'Whether you look at the riots last summer, the financial crash and the expenses scandal, or the on-going terrorist threat from Islamist extremists around the world, one thing is clear: moral neutrality or passive tolerance just isn't going to cut it anymore. Shying away from speaking the truth about behaviour, about morality has actually helped to cause some of the social problems that lie at the heart of the lawlessness we saw with the riots.'

He continues, 'I believe the Church has a unique opportunity to help shape the future of our communities. But to do so it must keep on the agenda that speaks to the whole country. The future of our country is at a pivotal moment. The values we draw from the Bible go to the heart of what it means to belong in this country and you, as the Church can help ensure that it stays that way'.

The challenge laid out by David Cameron to shape the future of our communities is a big one. Are we being equipped to do this? Are we sowing God's word into our lives and letting it bear fruit so people can see His truth living in us?

In our busy lives with lots of distractions, we want to encourage you today to prioritise His word, find His truths and apply them to your life. They WILL bear fruit and together we can help to shape the future of our communities.