It Must Groove

This morning, while driving to work, I noticed a car in front of me that had tons of bumper stickers. I am always curious to see who these people are and I wonder what drives them to actually stick something permanently on their vehicles.

This was one of those cars that had all kinds of political stickers and social stickers on it - we have all seen those cars. There was, however, one sticker that particularly stuck out to me - it was the one that said "Think Globally, Act Locally." I couldn't stop thinking about that phrase after reading it. I got to work and I did a quick Internet search to see where this phrase came from. What I found were some different contexts in which it was used; from the business world, in terms of globalization, to the social issues that are prominent these days (like going green).

I couldn't help but think of what it meant to me as a Christ follower. I thought about Jesus' life and realized that He carried out this phrase/slogan. His very coming to the earth had impact on a global scale; yet He acted locally. He helped the poor, the needy, the sick, the lonely and He gave them hope and love. What He did for the people in the local area moved His mission forward globally through the people who experienced life transformations.

Then before Jesus returned to heaven, He commissioned His disciples (and that includes us as Christ followers) in Matthew 28:18-20

18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

He was again thinking globally with this commissioning. Then in Acts, Jesus gives us a promise and He again addresses the phrase:

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

We are instructed here to be His witnesses in Jerusalem (the local area), and in all Judea and Samaria (the neighboring areas) and finally to the rest of the earth (globally). Think Globally, Act Locally.

I am learning that there are no boundaries with mission of Jesus. Our web/sphere (whatever you want to call it) of influence is sometimes more far-reaching than we are realize. I think of how wide the good news of Jesus Christ has already reached across this universe and it all started "locally" with a commission. I am personally experiencing some of the effects of being on the mission locally and internationally.

The mission is clear, the message is good; it's time to act - Think Globally, Act Locally.