Recently Melbourne lost the title of “world’s most liveable city.”
After 7 years at the top, it fell… to second place.
But for a city that ranks so highly, we find it easy to pick its faults (transport, cost of living, safety, etc.).

It’s loud and busy and…
that’s why I think God loves it.
Our city is full of people.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Jesus promises to Paul in Acts 18, that Jesus has many people in the city of Corinth [Acts 18:10].
It's a call to love the city, to love it's people.

Having grown up in Northern Sydney and now living in South-East Melbourne - we love the different cities, different communities, different people. As we explore the city laneways, open highways and leafy pathways - God is opening our eyes to his city.

As you look around your city, what stirs your soul?
What needs do you see and what areas of growth are you excited by?
Who do you see and what would it look like if they were transformed by the gospel?

We might not openly and intentionally think this way, but subconsciously, I wonder whether we’ve settled for aiming low. We’ve let our culture write the story, direct the narrative and set out what is normal.

Calling yourself a Christian rewrites that script.
To believe we can be saved by grace is to believe in the impossible.
To believe we can have life in Jesus is to believe in miracles.
To believe that we as a church can have impact in this community is to believe in the supernatural.

In Acts chapter 20 Paul makes the remarkable statement,
“I consider my life worth nothing to me.”

That’s a bold claim, does he mean it?
Is his life worth nothing?

Paul doesn’t think he’s worthless,
He knows his value but he’s not holding on to it.
He’s willing to give it up, give it away for the sake of something even more valuable.

There’s no aiming low there;
similarly, nothing half-hearted or fake.

Photo by Jeremy Perkins on Unsplash

Paul is aiming high and I am too, because
what I see in Jesus is far and beyond what I see in me.
However, the reverse is also true…
what Jesus sees in me is far and beyond what I see in myself.

As a result, each one of us can be courageous and aim high.
We can live with confidence, boldness and faith.

There are these two great quotes that talk about faith...


I love these quotes because they inspire you to step out in faith, to look at the unknown or a scary situation and face it, but they're missing something.


Depth.

What about when you're there. You've taken the step, you've walked in the dark, and it's just turned to a different shade of dark, and now there are not only steps ahead of you but behind you as well.

Maybe faith is more about who you are in the middle, than what happens at the beginning or the end.

Are you wondering why,
Are you wondering if you're in the right place,
Are you wondering if that was God you were following in the first place...

Well I think where you are requires more faith.
Faith to stick it out.
Faith to be.
Faith to continually be faithful.
I think it's beautiful.

Hillsong wrote a song that we sing at church:


Have you ever asked God to take you deeper than your feet would ever wander?

Are you there?

I am.

I bet our faiths are being made stronger.

Let's keep pushing in to God.
Let's run to him.
Let's keep letting him lead you.
Let's keep listening to his call.

It probably hurts.

But it's the best place for you. And I think it's beautiful.