I Have a Dream

“…that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!”
- The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On April 4th 1968, Martin Luther King was shot and killed on the balcony of his Memphis hotel. Without a doubt this was a cowardice act of blind hatred and violence, a man who stood for peace, openness to all races, justice and the Gospel was gunned down. And yet, his legacy lives on. It lives on in the strides we have made toward human equality, integrity and value; encouraging us even as we realize how far we have yet to go.
Do you have a dream?

Jesus of Nazareth had a dream. He proclaimed a vision of a world in which the empty would be filled, in which the grieving would be comforted, where the sick would be cared for, the hungry fed, and the captives set free. He believed that you and I , with His power could touch the world. He believed that we could share our faith in simple ways and people would be drawn to Him. He believed God could touch us in such a way that the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, could be with us, here and now. The kingdom of heaven breaks into the struggles and conflict and violence of this world wherever one person will reach toward another in simple kindness. Whenever someone will pray and prayer in Jesus’ name – life and power come. This is His kingdom.The kingdom of God reigns wherever those who will believe choose to order their lives according to the loving, and living God, and move and live in accordance with His ways and intentions. We live our dreams out by faith and perseverance not by fear and cynicism and greed that prevail in this world. We cannot live out the dreams God has placed inside of us if we live in the fray and allow it to fray us.

Psalm 34: 10 & 11
Do you really love life? Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies. Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road that leads to peace. (CEV)

Martin Luther King knew this. He lived it and put it into practice. He lived it, and he died for it. And he learned it from Jesus. Don’t let go of your dreams.

So what dreams has God placed inside of you and what are you doing about it? How are you seeing them lived out? What are you doing to press forward and see Jesus’ kingdom come to you? Keep dreaming better yet, live your dream and leave a legacy.