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It’s always fun when I learn something new while teaching, and that’s exactly what happened at the ECO conference last week as I was presenting the 6Ms–a list of ways to follow Jesus as presented in Fruitfulness on the Frontlines by Mark Greene. The book calls it a framework for fruitfulness:
- Model godly character
- Make good work
- Minister grace and love
- Mold culture
- Be a Mouthpiece for truth and justice
- Be a Messenger of the gospel
The book makes the point that this list should NOT be taken as yet one more set of things to feel guilty about or add to our already too-long checklist. It’s designed rather as an encouragement as we consider the ways God can use us in our environments.
Often, we think only of the first and last items: of course, I want to ACT like a Christian, modeling Christian character, and that will give me an opportunity to be a Messenger of the gospel. For sure that’s true, but God uses us in many more ways than that. Work is very important, in and of itself, and I want to write more about that, maybe beginning tomorrow. It may be that our ministering grace and love will result in a kinder, gentler culture in our workplace, neighborhoods, our families, and even online. We all know the kind of posts that usually land on Facebook. In addition, I’m on NextDoor, which I had hoped would bring our neighborhood together. Instead, many observations posted by our neighbors are met with harsh criticism and put-downs by other neighbors (sigh).
What did I learn while presenting this information? One of the pastors offered the observation that the 6Ms also could be seen as areas for growth, in which I will not be equally competent all the time. And I won’t be performing equally in all 6Ms every day. But I can look back over the day and see in which areas God was able to use me.
That’s nice. None of us is “omnicompetent,” as a friend of mine likes to put it. The 6Ms remind me that there is a variety of areas in which I can grow and serve. And that’s good news!
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life… (Philippians 2.14 – 16, NIV)