His Kingdom > This Platform. Care more about Hearts than Likes. Stop Playing Games. Start Loving People.

His Kingdom > This Platform. Care more about Hearts than Likes. Stop Playing Games. Start Loving People.

I am ashamed to say I’ve “played the game” — posting on this platform when “they“ said what I said would be read, researching the optimal times for maximum engagement. Likes, shares, saves. It all can be bit too much, like playing a game, a game you pay to play. It may not be a monetary investment, but at times, it has stolen my time and depleted my resources. It has sucked the life out of the life-giving reasons I started writing in the first place.


I get it. I know some of you navigate this space much better than me. Social media itself is not “evil.” It is a tool and resource that can be used in beneficial ways. I’ve seen it, and I admire those of you who steward it well.


But when it dictates when or how or why something is said instead of the when and how and why being born out of a passion for Christ, it’s a red flag for me. That’s when and how and why I need to step away and reevaluate.


Social media fasts are good. I recently did Wendy Speake’s “The 40-Day Social Media Fast.” It truly helped me put this online space in its proper place. Refraining from social media and retraining my heart and mind to crave God’s Word and time spent with Him and His people IRL is so life giving. Spending time in God’s Word never returns void. It produces a purpose and passion that takes you higher and farther than this platform ever will.


Producing “content” out of a place of rest in Him produces a content heart always ready for Kingdom work and Kingdom building.


If it’s all becoming a bit too much for you, let me encourage you to just take a break. Start your day in God’s word. End it there, too. Spend more time with people than on this app. Say no to needless scrolling. Don’t let the numbers become controlling. Bathe every post in prayer, and publish it when the Holy Spirit prompts. God is greater than the algorithms. Trust Him to guide it into the feeds at the time it needs to be seen.


Numbers mean nothing. Anyone can double click, but only God can make it stick. His Holy Spirit brings about life change. Our words and our ways will always fall short. His Word will never return void, and His ways are so much higher than ours.


He calls us to be faithful, to use our talents and gifts and abilities to glorify Him and build His kingdom, but the only rules we need to play by are the ones He established — speak the truth in love, glorify Him, edify others, be about His business, share the Gospel, love one another be kind and compassionate, forgive as He has forgiven us.


We need to check our hearts more than we check the numbers. Spend time with people more than we spend time on an app.


So, I’ll build His Kingdom, and let Him take care of my platform. I’ll follow Him (and encourage others to as well), and let Him take care of whoever “follows” me. I’ll love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I’ll read His Word. I’ll share His love and His truth with others, and let Him take care of who likes or reads or shares what I write or post or say.


Let’s care more about hearts than likes. Let’s stop playing games. Let’s start loving people.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 13: A Heart for the Lost

Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 13: A Heart for the Lost

June 13th. Day 13 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.

Today’s reason — A Heart for the Lost.

This reason to rehearse the gospel Daily immediately convicted me. I do have a heart for the lost, but the passion behind that heart and the desire to have harder, deeper conversations about the gospel ebbs and flows. A few friends come to mind when I think about those who truly have a heart for the lost. I want to be better about sharing my faith. I want to do better when living it out.

All the more reason to rehearse the gospel daily, and about this reason, Vincent says this...

“The more I rehearse and exult in gospel truths, the more there develops within me a corresponding burden for non-Christians to enter into such blessings. This is also what seems to happen to the Apostle Paul while writing the book of Romans.

He goes on to say...

“In Romans 5 Paul exults in his righteous standing before God. {Romans 5:1-11} In chapter 6 he speaks of the freedom from sin which Christ has accomplished in the lives of believers, {Romans 6:1-2, 6} a freedom which Paul later confesses had not yet become fully realized in his own daily practice (chapter 7). {Romans 7:19} Nonetheless, coming into chapter 8, he recounts the fact that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. {Romans 8:1} With increasing flourish, he rehearses numerous gospel themes throughout the length of chapter 8, and he climaxes the chapter with a triumphant exclamation regarding the endless love of God which enables Christians to conquer overwhelmingly in all things.” {Romans 8:35-39}

This is a longer one today, so hang with me. Vincent goes on to say…

“What effect do such gospel meditations have upon Paul? What emotions do they produce in him besides the obvious joy he feels while reciting them? Paul bares his soul at the very beginning of chapter 9: ‘I have great sorrow,’ he says, ‘and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ, for the sake of my brethren, my kinsman according to the flesh.’” {Romans 9:1-4}

At this point Vincent has covered 4 (and a little more) chapters of Romans with this one reason, but there is still more...

“Coming down from the heights of gospel meditation, Paul’s heart is devastated by a burden for his fellow Jews to experience the saving power of the gospel. His burden existed long before he started writing, but it is undoubtedly intensified by his rehearsal of gospel truth in Romans 5-8, a rehearsal which inevitably leads his thoughts toward the plight of those outside of Christ.”

In conclusion, he says this...

“Hence, if I wish to have a ‘Romans 9’ kind of burden for non-Christians, I should become practiced at celebrating the gospel as Paul does in Romans 5-8. Over time, my joy in the gospel will become increasingly tinged with grief, and this grief stained joy will lend a God inspired passion to my ministry of evangelizing the lost.”

Wow! Such conviction with today’s reading. I’m going to need to plant myself in Romans a little longer this morning.

Could we agree in prayer right now for an increased passion and desire for the lost...

Father, break our hearts for what breaks yours. More than anything else, give us a burden for those who do not yet know you personally and intimately. God, give us opportunities to share your love through the message of the gospel with others every single day. As we rehearse it to ourselves, may we be quicker and more ready to graciously give it to others. I’m Jesus’ Name, Amen

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