Australia day January 26th was a day celebrated all over the country by people joining together under the Aussie flag proud to call Australia home. For many it is the land of their birth, for others it has become their adopted home. This great nation, with it’s mix of ethnic backgrounds, accents, skin tones and cultural diversity can truly be called the “lucky country”. Yet we also recognize it is a land that has it’s share of social problems and deep personal need that employment opportunities, growing personal wealth or increased leisure activities can never satisfy.

It is into this social melting pot that we find ourselves. As we read in:- Acts 17:26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and reach out for him and find him, for he is not far from each one of us.

He has made each one of us unique, blessed us with different abilities, skills, talents, experiences and personalities. He has caused us to be born into this time period and linked us together for a specific purpose.

We each have a different story, each have left cities, states, or even countries for various reasons but God has a higher reason and purpose behind it. We have been drawn together because God requires that kind of diversity and variety to build his church. He does not want robots or clones but individuals joined together by a common vision, a set of common values and a commitment of love towards one another that both carries us in difficult times and becomes an attraction to those around us.

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said “I will build my church… and it will prevail”. He knows exactly what each church needs and will gather the raw ingredients required to build a church that glorifies him and that demonstrates His love, mercy and goodness. It has been exciting and encouraging to see how God is in fact assembling an army of fellow workers and builders. May we each be encouraged to “find” our place in His body, and use the gifts and abilities that He has given in the place that He has drawn us.

We have all been called to “make a difference” – let us reach out to the world around us and do so with joy and enthusiasm as we spread the fragrance of the kingdom.