A Different Kind of Stimulus Package

We’re all about stimulus these days. It’s our public duty to spend money, right? At least that’s what I keep telling my husband. It’s up to us to eat out. It’s up to us to go through that drive-thru and support that local business and get this economy going again. Come on, mama wants some new furniture.

But do you know what’s more important than stimulating the economy? Stimulating the gospel out into a world in desperate need of good news. Stimulating the church to stand up for what we claim is true. That the Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of honor and praise and trust. That He is faithful and sovereign. That Christ alone reigns over and above all this craziness and our hope is in Him.

If we really want to stimulate society then let’s hand out hope in a hopeless world. Let’s offer people eternal life when their current destiny is hell. Let’s not hesitate to tell them they can be forgiven and accepted and loved and cherished by the God who made them because that’s something worth promoting.

Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” The phrase “stir up” can also be translated “stimulate.” It’s the idea of provoking into action, like when one of my boys pokes their sister in the side and she jumps sixteen feet into the air.

The Lord knows from time to time we’re going to lack spiritual motivation (understatement of the year) so He says, encourage each other. Lift each other up. Think about how you can keep the love of Christ going and then go and do it. Lead by example, and tell people about me!

Because that is the kind of stimulus package this world really needs!

Can you imagine if we truly took this idea to heart? And by the way, we’re supposed to. Even the way we live our everyday, ordinary lives is supposed to push this world toward Christ. Our hope and joy and love for one another should be so captivating the world can’t help but notice. Our faith in Christ so strong and alive that it’s attractive to those around us.

Endorse the Lord Jesus Christ

Do you know what 2 Corinthians 3:3 says? It says believers are actually a letter of recommendation from Christ to the rest of the world. A letter not written with ink on paper but with the Spirit of the living God on remade hearts.

If you love Jesus then that’s you—a letter of recommendation written to the lost world. But is it? Are you so affected by your faith in Jesus that you are constantly endorsing Him to others by the way you’re living? By the things you’re saying? By the various entities you support?

Far be it from me to endorse the devil by supporting anything other than God.

I recently wrote a letter of recommendation for a friend and let me tell you, I did some impressive gushing (if I can say so) over her professional qualities in hopes of getting her noticed, getting her an interview, and getting her the job.

And the idea of 2 Corinthians 3:3 is the same. We have the marvelous privilege as saints saved by grace to gush over the perfections and majesty and faithfulness of our God in hopes of getting Him noticed, and well, getting Him the job.

Notice the words of 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

We’ve been chosen by God for a purpose—to proclaim the excellencies of Christ.  That is why we’re here. Our job is to make Christ known, stimulating the gospel forward into this generation and the next.

“Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him; sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!” –1 Chron. 16:8-9

We Are God’s Stimulus Package

The church isn’t called the body of Christ for nothing. Collectively we are Jesus to the lost world. And I’m not sure, but I’m a little concerned that as a whole, we’ve been doing a terrible job.

As of recent days, what have we been more actively promoting: faith or fear? trust or uncertainty? worship or worry? peace or distress? joy or depression? Is it the fruit of the Spirit we’ve been exhibiting or the unrighteous desires of the flesh?

Listen, if I were an unbeliever and I saw Christians walking around never talking about God and never smiling and always worried and just as uncertain about the future as I was, why would I want anything to do with God?

It just makes sense that if we aren’t excited about Jesus, they won’t be either. If we aren’t willing to trust God, they won’t be either. But on the flip side, confidence in God is magnificently appealing. This world is grasping for some shred of hope to believe in and it’s our responsibility to recommend Jesus.

Which shouldn’t be hard to do. Not when we’ve been brought from death to life, gifted with the Holy Spirit, handed every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, secured for the day of redemption, reconciled to God, and welcomed into His perfect presence like a child in the arms of a loving father.

I mean honestly, what’s not to recommend? What’s not to get excited about? The one and only perfect God put on flesh and died for our sins so we don’t have to.

The Kind of Stimulus We Really Need

If we hope to prod society in the right direction we have to start talking about Jesus. We have to show that we trust Him and fully accept Him as sovereign, holy, and worthy of praise. Peace amidst the craziness, hope amid the hopelessness, and an incessant love for the lost is nonnegotiable.

This doesn’t mean we tolerate sinful behavior. It means we expose it in hopes of stimulating every sinner toward the Savior who loves them and already paid the penalty for their sin. We don’t need to be scared to tell the truth, but let us tremble if we don’t!

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” –Matt. 5:16

The kind of stimulus package this world really needs includes Christians who are full of the Holy Spirit, unwavering toward truth, overflowing in faith, and so excited about God we’re unwilling to hide the gospel. 

If that were the kind of substance we were actively handing out, we wouldn’t just see an uptick in the economy. We’d see an explosion of the kingdom of God. And there is absolutely nothing better for our society than that.